rein

American  

[reyn] / reɪn /

noun

1. Often a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit.

2. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein.

3. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint.

4. reins, the controlling or directing power.

   the reins of government.

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verb (used with object)

1. to check or guide (a horse or other animal) by exerting pressure on a bridle bit by means of the reins.

2. to curb; restrain; control.

   Synonyms:

   limit, bridle, check

verb (used without object)

1. to obey the reins.

   a horse that reins well.

2. to rein a horse or other animal.

idioms

1. give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: Also give free rein to, give full rein to.

   to give rein to one's imagination.

2. draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt.

   The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.

rein British  

/ reɪn /

noun

1. (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

2. a similar device used to control a very young child

3. any form or means of control

   to take up the reins of government

4. the direction in which a rider turns (in phrases such as on a left ( or right ) rein , change the rein )

5. something that restrains, controls, or guides

6. to allow considerable freedom; remove restraints

7. to control carefully; limit

   we have to keep a tight rein on expenditure

8. with the reins held loosely so that the horse is relatively unconstrained

9. to take up the reins so that the distance between hand and bit is lessened, in order that the horse may be more collected

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verb

1. (tr) to check, restrain, hold back, or halt with or as if with reins

2. to control or guide (a horse) with a rein or reins

   they reined left

rein More Idioms  

1. see draw in the reins; free hand (rein) tight rein on.

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Other Word Forms

• reinless adjective
• unreined adjective

Etymology

Origin of rein

1300–50; (noun) Middle English rene, reine, raine < Old French re ( s ) ne < Vulgar Latin *retina, noun derivative of Latin retinēre to hold back, retain; (v.) Middle English rainen, reinen, derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

Presidents Gerald Ford and his successor Jimmy Carter took up the mantle of reform, instituting new norms and rules designed to rein in an out-of-control presidency.

From Salon

Born in 1827, Stanley was the eldest of 10 children given free rein to develop their own thoughts and beliefs.

From BBC

An aggressive FDA crackdown may finally rein in mass GLP-1 compounding, but history suggests this is only a bridge to a different kind of disruption.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since his appointment in 2017, Saudi Arabia has reined in its religious police, lifted a ban on women driving, allowed restaurants and cafes to desegregate by gender and promoted cinema and music events.

From The Wall Street Journal

When Sussan Ley made history as the first woman to take the reins of Australia's Liberal Party, she insisted this was a pivotal moment for the party – or what was left of it anyway.

From BBC

Related Words

• curb
• repress
• restrict
• suppress