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.

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.

keep a tight rein on

exercise strict control over; allow little freedom to.

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 ?

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

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

The switch in fuel has been amplified by the prospect of war in Iraq, causing many refiners to keep a tight rein on supplies.

GULP! GALLON OF GAS HEADING TOWARD $3

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

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

The managing partners all keep a tight rein on receivables but use different strategies to conserve cash.

How small CPA firms manage their cash

The board's executive committee will be replaced with a new management group ordered to keep a tight rein on planning.

BRIEFLY : DECISION DUE TODAY ON TYSON SENTENCING

In what is being called Bloody Monday by team executives and coaches around the league, the dismissals were carried out for a variety of reasons, ranging from not living up to high expectations to failing to keep a tight rein on players.

FIVE NFL COACHES IN LINE OF FIRE; TEAMS TERMINATE HEAD HONCHOS ON `BLOODY MONDAY'