Meaning & use
rein in
Last updated
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
To limit or control something that has been growing too fast or acting too freely.
Grammar: Takes an object, which can sit between the words: rein spending in.
Patterns
- rein in something
- rein something in
The government promised to rein in public spending.
She tried to rein in her excitement before the interview.
The council wants to rein in noise from late-night bars.
phrasephrasal verb
To pull on the reins so that a horse slows or stops.
Grammar: Literal sense, used with riding: rein in the horse.
Patterns
- rein in a horse
The rider reined in her horse at the edge of the cliff.
He reined the pony in before the gate.
She reined in sharply when the dog darted across the path.
Word forms
| third person singular | reins in |
|---|---|
| past tense | reined in |
| past participle | reined in |
| -ing form | reining in |
Common combinations
- rein in spending
- The mayor vowed to rein in spending.
- rein in costs
- The firm needs to rein in costs.
- rein in your temper
- He struggled to rein in his temper.
- rein in inflation
- The bank raised rates to rein in inflation.
- rein in power
- Lawmakers want to rein in the agency's power.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curb
- Curb is very close in meaning but is slightly more forceful and is common with harmful things like crime.
- restrain
- Restrain is more formal and can mean holding back a person physically.
- check
- Check suggests stopping or slowing something that is growing, often in the abstract.
- control
- Control is a general word, while rein in implies taking back control from something running loose.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rein in or reign in? rein in or rain?
rein in vs reign in
Reign in is a common spelling mistake for rein in; reign means to rule as a king or queen.
rein in vs rain
Rain is water from clouds, and does not appear in this idiom.
Practice
Which spelling is correct?
Choose one answer.
Rein in comes from the straps used to control a horse. Reign means to rule, which is a common mistake.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rein in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.