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hold the reins

verb

Etymology

A metaphor, based on the usual method of controlling a horse or a team of horses.

Definitions

  1. To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other…

    To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.

    • These terms . . . will place the future behavior of Germany at the dictation of the associated powers regardless of what form of provisional government may hold the reins at Berlin.
    • The convention also delivered a slap to the technocrats who have held the reins of government for more than a decade.
    • While conservatives hold the reins at the SBC, moderates have retained control of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for hold the reins. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA