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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

hold the reins en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

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

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.
    • While conservatives hold the reins at the SBC, moderates have retained control of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. 2003 April 20, Cathy Lynn Grossman, “Baptist missionaries at odds with church”, in USA Today:
    • 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. 1918 November 11, “Washington Believes Foch Will Still Accept Envoys' Signatures”, in Toronto World, page 1:
    • The convention also delivered a slap to the technocrats who have held the reins of government for more than a decade. 1996 October 7, Michael Serrill, “Mexico's Black Mood”, in Time:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
holding the reins Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
held the reins Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
held the reins Tense=Past lexicographic
holds the reins Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

bit between one's teeth · take the reins

Translations (7)

is hafa bæði tögl og hagldir (to be in charge) · fi pidellä ohjaksista (to be in charge) · fr tenir les rênes (to be in charge) · is hafa töglin og hagldirnar (to be in charge) · pl trzymać w cuglach (to be in charge) · is hafa bæði töglin og hagldirnar (to be in charge) · is hafa tögl og hagldir (to be in charge)