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
As the character struggles and fails to keep a rein on his feelings, McArdle’s emotions fire up the language.
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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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'keep a rein on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 23 Apr. 2024.
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