rein
/reɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /reɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrān/ (ame, mw)
rein — noun
- reinsingular
- reinsplural
1. a narrow piece of leather or strong material that connects to both sides of a ho
a narrow piece of leather or strong material that connects to both sides of a horse's bit, allowing the rider to guide the animal by pulling left or right.
Mei-Lin pulled the left rein gently, and her horse turned toward the gate.
pull + [left/right] rein to change direction
The leather rein snapped during the race, sending the rider tumbling to the ground.
collocation: rein snaps / breaks
José wiped the mud off the reins before leading his pony back to the stable.
Each rider checked that both reins were securely fastened to the bit before mounting.
Fatima held the reins loosely as her horse walked slowly along the trail.
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the plural (reins) because the strap has a left and a right side.
常見錯誤
2. a set of straps worn around a young child's body, with a longer strap that an ad
a set of straps worn around a young child's body, with a longer strap that an adult holds to stop the child running off or getting lost.
Oluchi clipped the harness around her toddler's chest before entering the crowded market.
collocation: clip / fasten a harness around [child]
The little boy tugged at his reins, trying to reach a toy on the high shelf.
Many parents use a soft harness with a long strap to keep young children safe in busy places like airports.
Yuki's mother held the harness strap while her two-year-old explored the train station.
- harness
the general term for the whole set of straps; 'reins' specifically emphasises the control strap the adult holds
用法筆記
Often simply called 'reins' (plural) in British English when referring to child harnesses; less common in American English.
3. the power or authority to keep a person, situation, or organisation under contro
the power or authority to keep a person, situation, or organisation under control and guide how it develops.
The CEO kept a tight rein on company spending during the economic downturn.
collocation: keep a tight rein on [something]
Parents must learn when to loosen the reins and let teenagers make their own choices.
collocation: loosen the reins
After the scandal, the board decided to take the reins of the department away from the manager.
The new principal gradually tightened the reins on classroom discipline.
Amir's grandmother held the reins of the family business for over forty years.
- freedom
the absence of control or restriction, opposite of keeping a tight rein
用法筆記
Used metaphorically in fixed phrases like 'keep a tight rein on', 'take the reins', 'loosen the reins'. The article and adjective can vary but the core image of holding or releasing control stays the same.
常見錯誤
4. the freedom or opportunity to act, spend, or create without outside limits or in
the freedom or opportunity to act, spend, or create without outside limits or interference; used in phrases like 'free rein' and 'give full rein to'.
The teacher gave her students free rein to choose their own research topics.
collocation: give [someone] free rein to [do something]
When the artist was given full rein, she created her most original work.
The manager let the design team have free rein over the new product's appearance.
Dmitri's parents gave him free rein to decide which university to attend.
- restriction
the opposite of freedom to act without limits
用法筆記
Nearly always occurs in the fixed phrases 'free rein' or '(give) full rein'. Despite the spelling, it has nothing to do with a monarch's 'reign' — the image is of a rider loosening the horse's reins to let it run freely.
常見錯誤
rein — verb
- reinpresent simple I / you / we / they
- reins3rd person singular
- reining-ing form
- reinedpast simple
1. to guide or direct a horse or other animal by pulling on its reins.
to guide or direct a horse or other animal by pulling on its reins.
Elena reined her horse to the left and trotted around the fence.
rein + horse + direction phrase
The cowboy reined in his horse and stopped at the edge of the cliff.
phrasal: rein in + horse
Deepak had to rein the pony firmly when it tried to bolt toward the hay bales.
Zara reined her mare gently along the narrow path through the forest.
文法句型
rein + horse/animal
rein + animal + direction
用法筆記
Often used with 'in' (rein in) even when the meaning is purely literal horse control. The 'in' adds a sense of pulling toward oneself.
2. to limit or stop someone or something from going too far, spending too much, or
to limit or stop someone or something from going too far, spending too much, or acting without control.
The government tried to rein in inflation by raising interest rates.
rein in + [abstract noun: inflation/spending]
Ingrid had to rein in her temper when her little brother spilled paint on the floor.
rein in + [emotion: temper/anger/excitement]
The school principal reined in the students' excitement after the fire alarm went off.
Kwame struggled to rein in his spending during the holiday sales.
Linh's coach told her to rein in her nerves before the championship match.
文法句型
rein in + [something/someone]
rein in + [emotion/spending/activity]
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'in' (rein in). Unlike literal horse-control uses, this figurative meaning requires the particle. Common objects include spending, emotions, enthusiasm, and behaviour.
常見錯誤
3. to cause a horse to go slower or come to a stop by drawing the reins back toward
to cause a horse to go slower or come to a stop by drawing the reins back toward you; can also refer to the rider stopping themselves by stopping the horse.
Noah reined up sharply when he saw the fallen tree blocking the trail.
rein up (intransitive) = stop the horse
The rider reined back and waited for the rest of the group to catch up.
rein back (intransitive) = slow the horse
Just before the jump, Emma reined in and decided the fence was too high.
As the stable came into view, Oluchi reined her horse to a gentle walk.
- spur
to urge a horse forward, the opposite of slowing it down with the reins
文法句型
rein up
rein back
rein in
用法筆記
Can be used with or without 'in', 'up', or 'back' as a particle. When the object (the horse) is stated, it is transitive ('rein a horse to a walk'); when no object is stated, it is intransitive ('rein up').