keep the peace

Idioms and Phrases

Maintain public order; prevent strife. For example, President Clinton ordered troops to Bosnia to keep the peace . This expression dates from the 1400s and was originally used more in the first sense, that is, of police keeping public order. It gained extra currency in the second half of the 1900s when military forces were sent to diverse places—Lebanon, Haiti, Bosnia—to stop warring factions.

Example Sentences

"I don't trust him to keep the peace. I honestly think he'll just make the war worse."

From BBC

GD's allegation against the opposition is that it will help the West open a new front in Russia's war in Ukraine, while Georgian Dream will keep the peace with its Russian neighbour, which went to war with Georgia in 2008 and still occupies 20% of its territory.

From BBC

The UN force was established in 1978 after the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, and had its role bolstered in 2006 to monitor and keep the peace there after that year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah.

From BBC

The government has dispatched more than 1,000 additional soldiers to help keep the peace in Sinaloa since July 25, upping the state total to more than 4,500 troops.

From Los Angeles Times

Smith, who had thrown water at police who were trying to keep the peace, admitted violent disorder and was given a community order at Manchester Crown Court.

From BBC