keep a rein on

idiom

: to limit or control (something)
We need to keep a rein on our spending.
He keeps a tight rein on every part of the process.

Examples of keep a rein on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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As the character struggles and fails to keep a rein on his feelings, McArdle’s emotions fire up the language. David Benedict, Variety, 14 Oct. 2021 The only way to keep a rein on that power is by enforcing the scheme of ethics that has grown up out of Christianity among people of self-governing institutions. John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020

Dictionary Entries Near keep a rein on

Cite this Entry

“Keep a rein on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20a%20rein%20on. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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