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Glite Dictionary
🐴 Horse straps ⛓️ A restraint 😠 To take offense 🐴 To put on straps
to bridle

to bridle

1 5.7
To put a set of straps and a bit on a horse's head to control it
  • verb
  • /ˈbraɪdəl/
translation icon : enbridar
  • Bridle on, treat; bridle off, treat.
  • bridle a horse
  • saddle and bridle

Examples

  • They led the horse back to the barn, unharnessed him, and started to bridle him in preparation for Ruby's trading trip.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Chang had the driver bridle our two horses to a stop in a grassy square near the center of town: a little commons that had not yet changed its name from "Union Square" to "Westwood Park."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Dail watched him for a moment, then got to his feet and went to saddle and bridle the horses.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • "Oh, he'll give you a good ride today, sir," John said with a chuckle, finishing with the mare's girth and moving on to bridle her.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Each time she finished riding and I could slip off from helping Daddy, I'd run to the stable, take her saddle, pad, and bridle from her, and carry them to the tack room.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • He bridles the beast, climbs on its back, and is promptly thrown to the ground and trampled.

    Academic text (2007)

  • It reminded me of a look I'd seen in my Uncle Skinny's eyes when he was observing a new colt he was about to bridle for the first time: a look of deeply centered patience, as if he was taking time to plan his approach.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Before riding, it is essential to bridle the horse properly to ensure control.

  • The trainer taught the students how to bridle a horse before the lesson began.

  • She carefully bridled her horse to make sure it would behave during the trail ride.

Synonyms

to halter
vsto bridle
1 4.9

To put a rope or strap around an animal's head to lead it

controls and guides an animal while ridden rather than only for leading

Antonyms

to release
∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

to unbridle
2 8.8

Take the bridle off a horse

Idioms

to bridle enthusiasm
7.4

Hold back your excitement so you do not seem too eager

Phrasal Verbs

to bridle at
1 8.4

To feel offended when someone says or does something you dislike

to bridle expectations
7.8

Limit how much you hope for to avoid disappointment

to bridle up
  • Informal
9.1

To react angrily and show offended pride when criticized

Compounds

bridle path
1 5.8

A path for riding or leading horses, not for vehicles

bridle road
  • UK
7.2

A path for riding or leading horses, not for cars

How Controlling

to restrain
86 4.6
to rein in
53 4.6
to bridle
1 5.7
to guide
313 1.0
to release
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

bridle infinitive
bridled past
bridled past participle
bridling present participle
bridles third person singular

Etymology

Bridle as a verb comes from the same old word and meant 'to put a bridle on a horse', so it still means to put the straps and bit on a horse or to control the horse with them.