Rein Control Give Held Order Child Stop Sb

noun
1 [countable, usually plural] a long narrow leather band that is attached to a metal bar in a horse's mouth (= a bit ) and is held by the rider in order to control the horse She pulled gently on the reins.

2 reins [plural] (BrE) strips of leather, etc. worn by a small child and held by an adult in order to stop the child from walking off and getting lost

3 the reins [plural] the state of being in control or the leader of sthIt was time to hand over the reins of power (= to give control to sb else). The vice-president was forced to take up the reins of office.

give/allow sb/sth free/full ˈrein| give/allow free/full ˈrein to sth to give sb complete freedom of action; to allow a feeling to be expressed freely The designer was given free rein. The script allows full rein to her larger-than-life acting style. When I paint I just give my imagination free rein. more at keep a tight rein on sb/sth at tight

verb

ˌrein sb/sthˈback| ˌrein sthˈin 1 to start to control sb/sth more strictly check We need to rein back public spending. She kept her emotions tightly reined in.

2 to stop a horse or make it go more slowly by pulling back the reins