keep a tight rein on

keep a tight rein on (someone or something)

To maintain strict or tight control over someone or something; to not allow someone or something very much independence or autonomy. Ever since George nearly lost his life savings in a drunken poker match, his husband has started keeping a tight rein on him. The boss has kept a tight rein on her assistant since she hired her. We try to keep a tight rein on our expenditures, but that's not always possible.
See also: keep, on, rein, tight

keep a tight rein on someone or something

 and keep a close rein on someone or something
Fig. to watch and control someone or something diligently. (Alludes to controlling a horse by a tight grip on the reins.) The office manager kept a tight rein on the staff. Mary keeps a close rein on her children.
See also: keep, on, rein, tight

keep a tight rein on

exercise strict control over; allow little freedom to.
See also: keep, on, rein, tight

keep a tight ˈrein on somebody/something

(also keep somebody/something on a tight ˈleash) control somebody/something very carefully; give somebody/something very little freedom: The company must keep a tight rein on spending. ♢ She keeps her children on a tight leash to make sure they don’t get into trouble. OPPOSITE: give/allow somebody/something free/full rein
A leash is used to hold and control a dog, and a rein is used to control a horse.
See also: keep, on, rein, somebody, something, tight
References in periodicals archive ?
Consumers gained more than $3.25 billion in benefits over 2 years from a Obamacare rule that compels insurers to keep a tight rein on overhead costs relative to the medical claims they pay out.
United States : OBAMACARE gains $3 billion in insurance windfall
But even with net cash of 9.2 billion euros at the end of September and an expectation of matching last year's record operating profit in 2012, VW has to keep a tight rein on costs.
VW to keep investing in bid for world dominance
YouGov expects the current challenging climate to persist as clients keep a tight rein on spending.
Political polling firm in profits slide; REVENUES
The firm said it was readying for major belt-tightening, including deferring capital expenditure wherever possible to keep a tight rein on costs.
Tata Motors warns job cuts after $520m loss
There is a "determination" to keep a tight rein on the pounds 9.3 billion budget and to garner public support for the event, according to Mr Brown.
Brown in pledge on Olympics
FIRMS have been urged to keep a tight rein on finances in the light of turbulence on the stock market, it was said today.
Cash flow forecast
Transport charges for hundreds of A-level students in Northumberland are to be reduced - despite plans to keep a tight rein on any council tax hikes.
WHO TAKES THE PAIN? Tax rise kept low but care costs set to rocket
All departments have been told to keep a tight rein on spending and more money has been put into reserves as the council faces up to further cost pressures in the year ahead.
Cash saved by city
It is so easy to go beyond one's measure, all too easy to increase rather than to reduce, or to lose control rather than keep a tight rein on things.
THOUGHT for the D AY
I hope for everyone they do now keep a tight rein on the young men who own these poor dogs.
Letter: You say - Not all dogs are bad
However much the present Beijing government would like to keep a tight rein on developments, and blend the best of community planning with market forces, today's reality is more like the free-for-all 'Manchester capitalism' which Friedrich Engels described at the beginning of Britain's industrial revolution.
History repeating itself
But the last time around, the scourge was malaria, and the Americans seeking to keep a tight rein on their profitable treatment were South Americans in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Race for the cure. (Political Booknotes)
Potentially, the throwaway card numbers could be used by teenagers whose parents want to keep track of their spending or by businesses that want to keep a tight rein on employee expenditures.
Julia Angwin
A combination of LifeKeeper, MySQL, Linux and Intel-based servers delivers maximum reliability and uptime that enable enterprise IT managers to keep a tight rein on their costs.
LIFEKEEPER OFFERS LINUX, SOLARIS AND NT-BASED SOLUTIONS
"To make it do double duty-pursue social responsibility as well as your investment goal--is incompatible many times." Financial observers warn that investors who do proceed with such investments need to keep a tight rein on their political inclinations.
Dollars and political sense
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