rein1 nounrein2 verb
reinrein1 /reɪn/ noun 
WORD ORIGINrein1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French rene, from Latin retinere; ➔ RETAINEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- And the mare, as if finally understanding, begins to strain, tosses her head wildly, pulls at the reins.
- Despite bad moods and worse manners, the car could always be tamed by appreciation, patience and just enough rein.
- He dragged on the reins and drew the buggy around, flaying the horse with his whip.
- He gave me the backbone to take the reins and be assertive and a little more aggressive.
- Meanwhile, Seb tied the reins of his horse to the back of the cart before sprinting towards the manor house.
- SunSelect general manager, Carl Ledbetter, takes the reins of the combined unit.
- The ponies were growing restless, and she shook the reins and sent them on down the gentle slope towards the house.
Longman Language Activatorto let someone do whatever they want
· The children at the school are given complete freedom to study whatever subjects they want.· The major argument for capitalism is that it gives people freedom to make their own choices about what they do.
if someone who employs you gives you free rein to plan, make, or operate something, they let you decide what to do and how to do it: · We're giving the medical center a free hand as to how it spends the money.· The new chairman has been given a completely free hand to make whatever changes he thinks necessary.
if someone in authority gives someone carte blanche , they give them complete power over what is done and how it is done - use this especially when you do not approve of the power they are given or the decisions they make: · The General seems to have been given carte blanche to attack whatever civilian targets he wants.· The Supreme Court's decision practically gives the police carte blanche to order everyone out when they stop a car.
British /give somebody a blank check American to let someone have as much money as they need to do something - use this especially about government or business activity: · It no longer makes sense to give the Pentagon a blank check when funding for domestic programs is being reduced.· We cannot let our democracy become a matter of simply giving a bunch of politicians a blank cheque to govern us every five years.
to allow someone to stay in or use a place and do what they want there: · Gary and Kaye were often out at work till late evening, but gave us the run of the house.· He was given the run of Shaw's library while writing his biography.
to treat someone strictly to treat someone very strictly and sometimes unfairly: · Sometimes I think you're too hard on that boy.· Don't be too hard on her. She didn't mean to break it.
to begin to treat someone strictly because they have been doing something that is wrong or illegal: · At last the government is starting to get tough with dealers who sell dangerous second-hard cars.· Football clubs have been told that they must get tough with violent fans.
if you say that you stand or take no nonsense , you mean you treat other people strictly, but in a way that makes people respect you: · I won't stand any nonsense. I want you all in bed by nine o'clock.stand/take no nonsense from: · She was a very good teacher who would take no nonsense from her students.
to control an organization or group of people very strictly, by always punishing people if they do not obey you: · Their mother ruled their life with a rod of iron.· The Secret police ruled the city with a rod of iron.
to strictly control someone's behaviour, for example by not allowing them to do things without asking your permission: · They keep a very tight rein on their children.· The government has promised to keep a tight rein on public spending.
WORD SETSbareback, adjectivebay, nounbit, nounblacksmith, nounblaze, nounblinkered, adjectiveblinkers, nounbloodstock, nounbridle, nounbridle, verbcanter, verbcard, nouncrop, noundressage, nounequestrian, adjectiveequine, adjectiveevens, nounfarrier, nounfence, nounfield, nounfilly, noungallop, verbgallop, noungee-gee, noungelding, noungirth, noungroom, noungymkhana, nounhack, verbhack, nounhalter, nounhand, nounhigh-spirited, adjectivehorsemanship, nounhorse-riding, nounjib, verbjockey, nounjodhpurs, nounjoust, verbjump, nounlad, nounlength, nounmiler, nounmount, nounnag, nounneigh, verbnobble, verbnosebag, nounodds, nounofftrack, adjectiveostler, nounpack trip, nounpaddock, nounpair, nounpalomino, nounparimutuel, nounpommel, nounpony-trekking, nounprance, verbracecourse, nounracegoer, nounracehorse, nounrace meeting, nounracetrack, nounracing, nounrein, nounremount, verbride, verbriding, nounroan, nounrodeo, nounsaddle, nounsaddle, verbsaddle bag, nounshoe, nounshoe, verbshow jumping, nounshy, verbskittish, adjectivespur, nounspur, verbstable, nounstable, verbstable boy, nounstabling, nounstarting gate, nounstarting price, nounstayer, nounsteeplechase, nounsteward, nounstirrup, nountack, nounthoroughbred, nounthree-day event, nountip, nountipster, nountournament, nountout, verbtrot, nounturf accountant, noununseat, verbwater jump, nounwhoa, interjectionwinning post, nounyearling, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=control it very firmly)
The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power. Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power. Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.· So, goes the conspiracy, the Foreign Office can now give free rein to its instinctive Arabism.· Then I pretty much give them free rein.· As he drove he was able to allow his thoughts a free rein.· No, it was thanks to my culinary abilities that Marie-Claude gave me free rein of both her kitchen and her bedchamber.· I would discuss the script, say, on proportional representation, and then give him free rein.· But at that minute, having allowed them free rein, guilt and self-condemnation were riding her hard.· His moral reading of events was given free rein.· The special conditions at Westminster are one part of the explanation of the relatively free rein given to counter-insurgency and covert activity.
· Despite giving full rein to Laura's inner struggles and torments, Fuentes is far more interested in the grand scale.· He gave her full rein of the hallway.· Closing his eyes wasn't much better, because it gave his imagination full rein.· In this book I ask you to abandon your conservatism and allow your curiosity full rein.
· Non-executive directors would keep executives on a tight rein.· Apart from anything else, it would be necessary to keep Hilary Todd on a tight rein.· I tend to keep a tight rein at first, and gradually relax as I get to know them.· Her only chance of survival, she felt, was to keep a tight rein over her feelings and words.
VERB· Unlike his predecessors, Norvm had managerial experience, having formerly held the reins at Railway Sidings Malmo.· More than half its membership came from the very corporate law firms that have perennially held the reins of the bar.· He wouldn't have done that, would he, if he wasn't holding the reins ...?· Businessmen talk on their cellular phones while holding on to the reins of their strong-legged animals at stoplights.· Nutty showed him how to hold the reins.· Kremlin holds the reins, page 7 Non-Communist becomes acting head of state Krenz falls as unrest fears grow.· Riven held his reins in one hand and jabbed at the snarling grypesh with the other as they darted into his reach.
· There was a loud clang and Broomhead cursed vehemently, pulling on the reins.· Twenty minutes later Luke pulled back on the reins as they reached the crossroads.· She was attempting to pull her reins out of Alexei's hands.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► keep a tight rein on somebody/somethingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable usually plural] a long narrow band of leather that is fastened around a horse’s head in order to control it2give (full/free) rein to something to allow an emotion or feeling to be expressed freely: - Despite giving full rein to Laura's inner struggles and torments, Fuentes is far more interested in the grand scale.
- So, goes the conspiracy, the Foreign Office can now give free rein to its instinctive Arabism.
- The result has been that recent chancellors have been able to give free rein to their tax-reforming ambitions.
- You'd be given free rein to run the show how you wanted it.
- I would discuss the script, say, on proportional representation, and then give him free rein.
- No, it was thanks to my culinary abilities that Marie-Claude gave me free rein of both her kitchen and her bedchamber.
- Such as he can not comprehend that which prompts others to give their heart free rein!
- Then I pretty much give them free rein.
- While watching him at work she impulsively asked to borrow his materials and followed his advice to give her imagination free rein.
- Campbell Christie takes over the reins at Brockville tomorrow.
- Finally, on November 24, he took over the reins of the Puzzle Palace from the retiring director.
- The younger generation had taken over the reins.
- They've given me a free hand with the budget, as long as I stay under $10,000.
- Both these factors gave him a freer hand to negotiate.
- He's given me a free hand to buy horses.
- I would discuss the script, say, on proportional representation, and then give him free rein.
- It turns them on and gives them a free hand to be as obnoxious as they want.
- No advanced industrial nation gives corporations a freer hand in busting unions.
- No, it was thanks to my culinary abilities that Marie-Claude gave me free rein of both her kitchen and her bedchamber.
- Then I pretty much give them free rein.
- While watching him at work she impulsively asked to borrow his materials and followed his advice to give her imagination free rein.
He gave free rein to his imagination.3give somebody (a) free rein to give someone complete freedom to do a job in whatever way they choose4keep a tight rein on somebody/something to control something strictly: The finance director keeps a tight rein on spending.5take/hand over the reins to take or give someone control over an organization or country: Owens will officially take over the reins in a few weeks.rein1 nounrein2 verb
reinrein2 verb VERB TABLE
rein
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | rein |
| he, she, it | reins | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | reined |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have reined |
| he, she, it | has reined | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had reined |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will rein |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have reined |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am reining |
| he, she, it | is reining | |
| you, we, they | are reining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was reining |
| you, we, they | were reining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been reining |
| he, she, it | has been reining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been reining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be reining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been reining |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- After reining in the regional barons and tackling the business oligarchs, Mr Putin read the riot act to the generals.
- Bandelier did prompt his parents to take steps to rein Kip in.
- But Puerto Rico is relying on Big Government to rein in crime and address festering social problems in the developments.
- Further spotlighting that metamorphosis, Bush's budget used tones of moderation to describe its effort to rein in spending.
- She was considered a wild girl who only needed reining in, and Hank was the man to do it.
- The ruling is an important victory for groups trying to rein in such verdicts.
- The strategy of bartering, mentioned earlier is one way to rein in the cost of a date.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=control it very firmly) The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power. Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB The former dictator still keeps a tight grip on power. Anna was determined to keep a tight hold on her feelings.· She was considered a wild girl who only needed reining in, and Hank was the man to do it.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
rein something ↔ in (also rein something ↔ back British English) phrasal verb1to start to control a situation more strictly: - They've given me a free hand with the budget, as long as I stay under $10,000.
- Both these factors gave him a freer hand to negotiate.
- He's given me a free hand to buy horses.
- I would discuss the script, say, on proportional representation, and then give him free rein.
- It turns them on and gives them a free hand to be as obnoxious as they want.
- No advanced industrial nation gives corporations a freer hand in busting unions.
- No, it was thanks to my culinary abilities that Marie-Claude gave me free rein of both her kitchen and her bedchamber.
- Then I pretty much give them free rein.
- While watching him at work she impulsively asked to borrow his materials and followed his advice to give her imagination free rein.
The government is reining in public expenditure.2to make a horse go more slowly by pulling on the reins