on a short leash
11
7.7
- idiom
- Informal
- The manager keeps his team on a short leash to ensure deadlines are met.
- keeps you on a short leash
- put you on a short leash
- got you on a short leash
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Watch on YouTubeAnd now, you know, you're on a short leash when you're older.
- And now, you know, you're on a short leash when you're older.
- I mean, you'll see when you get older, you could still look awesome like this, but you're on a short leash as far as health.
- I think it's really hard to keep your son on a short leash with a life like that, that that that he had, that the the cards that he was dealt.
Examples
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I'm starting to like this place, but I'm on a short leash here.
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Hire a local contractor but keep them on a short leash.
Fiction book (1995) -
But know that I will have you on a short leash.
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- You just have to keep them on a short leash.
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And you are on a short leash.
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Your boy here, you need to keep him on a short leash.
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You have to keep 'em on a short leash, Bob.
Fiction book (2000) -
Yes, Maggie always did keep Jim on a short leash.
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Well, I guess my mom wanted to keep my dad on a shorter leash.
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Sounds like someone's got you on a short leash there.
Synonyms
459
2.5
Managed so it is calm and not dangerous
239
3.4
Kept within limits by careful management
143
4.5
A limit on how much someone can do
18
7.0
Held by chains around the ankles so the person cannot move freely
15
5.7
Close control of someone that allows them little freedom
10
6.5
Strict rules make people do the same things and limit their freedom
2
8.1
Held by chains or ties so someone cannot move and cannot act freely
How Free
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'leash' denotes restraint or control and 'short' indicates limited length/extent, so 'on a short leash' straightforwardly conveys being under tight or limited control. This composition follows a transparent physical-to-social metaphor (literal leash → limited freedom) that is cross-linguistically common and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
On a short leash comes from the image of a pet kept on a very short leash so it can hardly move. That's why it means 'under strict control' or 'having limited freedom'.