Synonyms

ride herd on

Idioms

Keep close watch or tight control over, as in Aunt Martha is always riding herd on her bridge club, making sure they follow the rules. This idiom alludes to the cowboy who rides around a herd of cattle to keep them together. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The idea was to ride herd on a financial industry that thought nothing of ripping off consumers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the United Network for Organ Sharing already ride herd on organ procurement organizations.

From Washington Times • Jul. 15, 2019

After President John F. Kennedy became disenchanted with the agency’s failed operation to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba in 1961, he assigned his brother Attorney General Robert Kennedy to ride herd on the agency.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2017

Lowey promised to ride herd on the administration to help get the Republicans the information they're demanding.

From US News • Apr. 13, 2016

I've been set to ride herd on you daytimes, the other boys'll guard you nights.

From Going Some by Beach, Rex Ellingwood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023