in tow

Idioms  

1. In one's charge or close guidance; along with one. For example, The older girl took the new student in tow, or Peter always had his family in tow. This expression alludes to the literal meaning of being pulled along. [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in tow

At least three people, including Robinson’s mom and Banks’ wife, have bodyguards in tow, some of them hulking and one with a tattooed head that bears the letters SOG, to signify “Son of God.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

He points to his own last trip: No work to bring along, no kids in tow, no need to act like the boss or the employee.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

She was there early to pick up her husband from a work trip, with two daughters in tow, and they were "trying to get some sleep" as they waited.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

That night, they were escorted onto the baseball diamond in an armored car with a security detail of some 200 police officers in tow.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

Valentine himself was in Chicago meeting with the banks, his two sons in tow now that they were old enough to help with the farm’s accounts.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead