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to rein

to rein

69 4.9
To control and hold back people or things
  • verb
  • /reɪn/
translation icon : refrenar
  • A slate of conservatives won office, aiming to rein in spending so they could cut taxes.
  • try to rein in
  • efforts to rein in
  • attempt to rein in

And our kids and our grandkids that we don't rein this in, we'll have to fork out even more.

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Examples

  • I can always rein him in later.

  • President Carter issued a punitive new executive order further reining in the CIA's role in the American intelligence system.

    Academic text (2009)
  • So how do you think Trump can can rein in this Clean Air Act?

  • Officers have struggled for years to rein in the violence.

  • Moreover, it was again time to use congressional oversight to rein in the agency.

    Academic text (2009)
  • If elections are held, a president or parliament hoping to rein in the military may eventually outmaneuver it.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Elsewhere, however, communities are still struggling to rein in reactive nitrogen.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Yet he made several valiant attempts to rein in bloated military budgets.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The government needs to rein in excessive spending to reduce the national debt.

  • She managed to rein the children in before they started running off in different directions.

Synonyms

to hold
vsto rein
1.9

To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction

covers guiding or steering rather than only confining
to restrain
vsto rein
86 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

emphasizes guiding or gentle steering rather than mainly forcing or blocking
to harness
vsto rein
81 4.0

Control and use energy or strong feelings for a purpose

focuses on guiding or controlling people or animals rather than using their power
to rein in
vsto rein
53 4.6

To keep someone or something under control, for example by limiting spending

includes guiding and steering not only limiting or stopping
to draw rein
vsto rein
  • Literature
8.4

To stop or slow progress by controlling it, like a rider pulling the straps that guide a horse

covers guiding or steady direction rather than only stopping

Antonyms

1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

104 4.3

Set someone free from prison or unfair control

Phrasal Verbs

53 4.6

To keep someone or something under control, for example by limiting spending

to draw rein
  • Literature
8.4

To stop or slow progress by controlling it, like a rider pulling the straps that guide a horse

Compounds

15 4.1

Freedom to act and make choices without someone controlling you

bearing rein
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A rein used to keep a horse's head raised while pulling a carriage or when someone rides it

bog rein orchid
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant with long stems of many small fragrant white flowers that grows in wet bogs

An orchid with thick stems and white fragrant flowers that grows along the United States Pacific coast

A North American orchid with small delicate blooms that grows from Alaska to Baja California and east to Colorado

leading rein
  • Specialized
6.6

A strap on a horse's bridle that directs the horse's head left or right

rein orchid
  • Specialized
9.9

A wildflower with a lower petal shaped like a kidney

rein orchis
  • Specialized
9.9

A wildflower from North America with a kidney-shaped lower part of the flower

9.9

A North American orchid with two round leaves and greenish white flowers on one stalk

How Controlling

to dominate
275 3.7
to rein
69 4.9
to restrain
86 4.6
to guide
313 1.0

Surface Forms

rein infinitive
reined past
reined past participle
reining present participle
reins third person singular

Etymology

The verb rein comes from the action of pulling the horse's strap to slow or guide it, so to 'rein in' a feeling or action is to control it or hold it back.