rein
any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.
reins, the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.
to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.
to curb; restrain; control.
to obey the reins: a horse that reins well.
to rein a horse or other animal.
Idioms about rein
draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt: The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.
give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one's imagination.: Also give free rein to, give full rein to.
Origin of rein
1Other words for rein
Other words from rein
- reinless, adjective
- un·reined, adjective
Words that may be confused with rein
Words Nearby rein
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use rein in a sentence
SEATTLE — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will step down as chief executive of the e-commerce giant, turning over the reins to the company’s longtime cloud-computing boss Andy Jassy.
Jeff Bezos stepping down as Amazon CEO, transitioning to executive chair role | Jay Greene, Tony Romm | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostGoogle founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped back from their roles as CEO and president of Alphabet in 2019, handing the reins to Sundar Pichai, a trusted deputy of 15 years.
With Bezos out as Amazon CEO, Zuckerberg is the last man standing | Elizabeth Dwoskin | February 3, 2021 | Washington PostMayor Todd Gloria took the reins at City Hall last Thursday having already vowed to find funding to keep the shelter open into the new year.
The Convention Center Coronavirus Outbreak Was Inevitable | Lisa Halverstadt | December 17, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoMayor Todd Gloria took the reins at City Hall on Thursday, becoming the first person of color and member of the LGBT community elected to the city’s top post.
Morning Report: New Mayor, Council Take Over | Voice of San Diego | December 11, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoWhen he took the reins in 2018, the 1,470-store chain made becoming an e-commerce player a priority.
Pandemic puppies push Petco profits, prompting public prospectus | Phil Wahba | December 4, 2020 | Fortune
Kim Jong Un, who assumed power on the death of his father, had given uncle Jang nearly free rein to handle relations with Beijing.
In retirement, Frank is consciously trying to pare down and rein in.
Richard Ford’s Artful Survivalist Guide: The Return of Frank Bascombe | Tom LeClair | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTCongress itself ironically recognized as much in its effort to rein in presidential use of force after Vietnam.
There are times where we do takes that are so crazy that we have to rein it in.
Inside the Mind of The Mindy Project’s Resident Weirdo, Ike Barinholtz | Kevin Fallon | September 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe organized a bipartisan effort to rein in the National Security Agency that came within a few votes of passing the House.
He rode easily, with a loose rein, and he waved his disengaged hand the instant he caught sight of the white faces.
The Red Year | Louis TracyTo rein up was impossible, to go down would have been almost certain death to horse and man.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneThe rein was fastened to a piece of split rattan drawn through the animal's nose.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton WadeWithout drawing rein, they pushed on to Busseerutgunge, crossed the river Sai and neared the village of Bunnee.
The Red Year | Louis TracyA little way beyond the poplar-grove Piegan drew rein, and held up one hand.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for rein
/ (reɪn) /
(often plural) one of a pair of long straps, usually connected together and made of leather, used to control a horse, running from the side of the bit or the headstall to the hand of the rider, driver, or trainer
a similar device used to control a very young child
any form or means of control: to take up the reins of government
the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left (or right) rein, change the rein)
something that restrains, controls, or guides
give free rein or give a free rein to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints
keep a tight rein on to control carefully; limit: we have to keep a tight rein on expenditure
on a long rein with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained
shorten the reins to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected
(tr) to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins
to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins: they reined left
Origin of rein
1rein
- See also rein in
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with rein
see draw in the reins; free hand (rein) tight rein on.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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