Meaning & use
in the saddle
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
in control of a situation or organization, especially after gaining power or authority
Grammar: Used after the verb be or get: be in the saddle, get back in the saddle.
Patterns
- be in the saddle
- get back in the saddle
- put someone in the saddle
After the election, the new mayor was firmly in the saddle.
She returned from leave and was soon back in the saddle, running the department again.
The board wanted a leader who could stay in the saddle during the crisis.
phrasefixed phrase
riding a horse
Grammar: Used literally about a person on a horse; often with be or stay.
Patterns
- be in the saddle
- stay in the saddle
The rider spent six hours in the saddle without a break.
He looked calm and confident in the saddle.
Common combinations
- firmly in the saddle
- By June the prime minister was firmly in the saddle.
- back in the saddle
- After a month off, he is back in the saddle at work.
- stay in the saddle
- Good managers know how to stay in the saddle when things go wrong.
- get in the saddle
- It took her a year to get in the saddle as director.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in charge
- More direct and general; 'in charge' simply means having responsibility, while 'in the saddle' suggests active control after a struggle or return.
- in control
- Neutral and common; 'in the saddle' is more idiomatic and often suggests political or organizational power.
Opposites
Commonly confused: in the saddle or in the driving seat?
in the saddle vs in the driving seat
British English uses 'in the driving seat' for being in control; 'in the saddle' is more common in American English and in political writing.
Practice
After the scandal, the CEO resigned and the deputy was soon ______.
Choose one answer.
'In the saddle' means in control, which fits taking over as leader. 'In the wings' means waiting to take over, not actually in control yet.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in the saddle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.