Meaning & use
rein
Last updated
A long strap attached to a horse's bit, used by a rider to control and guide the animal.
See it in a sentence
She pulled gently on the reins to slow the horse to a walk.
He kept a firm hold on the reins as the horse startled.
A note on using this word
The idiom "rein in" means to bring something under control, as in "rein in spending," extending the literal horse-riding meaning to many other contexts.
Words with a similar meaning
bridle strap
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To restrain or bring something under control.
The new manager had to rein in the department's runaway spending.
Make it your own
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