rein
rein /r'eɪn/ (reins reining reined)
1 [N-PLURAL]
Reins are the thin leather straps attached round a horse's neck which are used to control the horse.
2 [N-PLURAL] oft the N of n
Journalists sometimes use the expression the reins or the reins of power to refer to the control of a country or organization.
He was determined to see the party keep a hold on the reins of power...
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you give free rein to someone, you give them a lot of freedom to do what they want.
The government continued to believe it should give free rein to the private sector in transport.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep a tight rein on someone, you control them firmly.
Her parents had kept her on a tight rein with their narrow and inflexible views.rein back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To rein back something such as spending means to control it strictly.
The government would try to rein back inflation.rein in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
To rein in something means to control it.
His administration's economic policy would focus on reining in inflation...
Mary spoiled both her children, then tried too late to rein them in.
1 [N-PLURAL]
Reins are the thin leather straps attached round a horse's neck which are used to control the horse.
2 [N-PLURAL] oft the N of n
Journalists sometimes use the expression the reins or the reins of power to refer to the control of a country or organization.
He was determined to see the party keep a hold on the reins of power...
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you give free rein to someone, you give them a lot of freedom to do what they want.
The government continued to believe it should give free rein to the private sector in transport.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep a tight rein on someone, you control them firmly.
Her parents had kept her on a tight rein with their narrow and inflexible views.rein back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
To rein back something such as spending means to control it strictly.
The government would try to rein back inflation.rein in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
To rein in something means to control it.
His administration's economic policy would focus on reining in inflation...
Mary spoiled both her children, then tried too late to rein them in.