The office manager kept a tight rein on the staff.
•Mary keeps a close rein on her children.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
keep a tight rein on someone — keep a tight rein on (someone/something) to control someone or something carefully. Clarke has consistently pointed to the need to keep a tight rein on government finances. He kept a tight rein on his daughter … New idioms dictionary
keep a tight rein on something — keep a tight rein on (someone/something) to control someone or something carefully. Clarke has consistently pointed to the need to keep a tight rein on government finances. He kept a tight rein on his daughter … New idioms dictionary
keep a tight rein on — (someone/something) to control someone or something carefully. Clarke has consistently pointed to the need to keep a tight rein on government finances. He kept a tight rein on his daughter … New idioms dictionary
tight — [[t]ta͟ɪt[/t]] ♦♦♦ tighter, tightest 1) ADJ GRADED Tight clothes or shoes are rather small and fit closely to your body. She walked off the plane in a miniskirt and tight top... His jeans were too tight. Ant: loose Derived words: tightly ADV… … English dictionary
rein — ▪ I. rein rein 1 [reɪn] noun 1. keep a tight rein on something to control something strictly: • The finance director keeps a tight rein on spending. 2. take/hand over the reins to take or give someone control over an organization or country: • I … Financial and business terms
tight — 1 /taIt/ adjective 1 CLOTHES fitting a part of your body very closely, especially in a way that is uncomfortable: tight trousers | My shoes were far too tight and I was in agony by the time I got home. | be a tight fit (=only just fits someone):… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
keep something in check — CURB, restrain, hold back, keep a tight rein on, rein in/back; control, govern, master, suppress, stifle; informal keep a lid on. → check * * * keep/hold/someone/something in check … Useful english dictionary
rein — rein1 [reın] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: rene, from Latin retinere; RETAIN] 1.) [C usually plural] a long narrow band of leather that is fastened around a horse s head in order to control it →↑bridle 2.) give (full/free) rein to sth … Dictionary of contemporary English
rein — 1 noun (C) 1 also reins (plural) a long narrow band of leather that is fastened around a horse s head in order to control it 2 give (full/free) rein to to allow an emotion or feeling to be expressed freely: He gave free rein to his imagination… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
tight — I UK [taɪt] / US adjective Word forms tight : adjective tight comparative tighter superlative tightest ** 1) a) clothes that are tight are close against your body when you wear them a tight skirt/dress b) used about clothes that are uncomfortable … English dictionary
tight — tight1 [ taıt ] adjective ** ▸ 1 close against body ▸ 2 hold/grip: firm & strong ▸ 3 stretched straight/flat ▸ 4 controlled carefully ▸ 5 only just enough ▸ 6 about competition ▸ 7 angle: very small ▸ 8 bend: curved a lot ▸ 9 feeling squeezed ▸… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
