Phrase guide

hold the reins

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A metaphor, based on the usual method of controlling a horse or a team of horses.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pidellä ohjaksista — to be in charge
  • French: tenir les rênes — to be in charge
  • Icelandic: hafa bæði tögl og hagldir — to be in charge
  • Icelandic: hafa bæði töglin og hagldirnar — to be in charge
  • Icelandic: hafa tögl og hagldir — to be in charge
  • Icelandic: hafa töglin og hagldirnar — to be in charge
  • Polish: trzymać w cuglach — to be in charge