leash (redirected from straining at the leash)

have one's brain on a leash

Sl. to be drunk. Maxhad his brain on a leash before he even got to the party. Some guy who had his brain on a leash ran his car off the road.

See also: brain, have

on a tight leash 

1. Lit. [of an animal] on a leash, held tightly and close to its owner. I keep my dog on a tight leash so it won't bother people.

2. Fig. under very careful control. My father keeps my brother on a tight leash. We can't do much around here. The boss has us all on a tight leash.

3. Sl. addicted to some drug. Wilbur is on a tight leash. He has to have the stuff regularly. Gert is kept on a tight leash by her habit.

See also: tight

strain at the leash 

1. Lit. [for a dog] to pull very hard on its leash. It's hard to walk Fido, because he is always straining at the leash. I wish that this dog would not strain at the leash. It's very hard on me.

2. Fig. [for a person] to want to move ahead with things, aggressively and independently. She wants to fix things right away. She is straining at the leash to get started. Paul is straining at the leash to get on the job.

See also: strain

---

be straining at the leash

to be very eager to do something that you are being prevented from doing at the present time Meanwhile we hear that our soldiers have reached a peak of fitness and are straining at the leash.

See also: strain

have/keep somebody on a short/tight leash

to have a lot of control over someone's behaviour and allow them very little freedom to do what they want He doesn't go out with the lads so much these days. Michelle keeps him on a tight leash.

See also: have, short

---

keep somebody on a tight leash also keep somebody on a short leash

to allow someone very little freedom to do what they want He doesn't go out with the guys much now that his girlfriend is around to keep him on a tight leash.

Usage notes: sometimes used with have: The police will have a tight leash on all the suspects until the trial.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of leash (a length of rope or leather used to prevent a dog or other animal from getting away)

See also: keep, tight