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give rein to
Variant of rein
noun
- a narrow strap of leather attached to each end of the bit in the mouth of a horse, and held by the rider or driver to control the animal: usually used in pl.
- a means of guiding, controlling, checking, or restraining: the reins of government
transitive verb
to guide, control, check, or restrain with or as with reins
intransitive verb
- to stop or slow down a horse, etc. with or as with reins: with in or up
- Archaic to submit to or be controlled by reins: said of a horse
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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