(一般作reins)
1- a long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or check a horse in riding or driving缰绳。
1.1
- a similar device used to restrain a young child（牵小孩用）安全绳套, 安全带。
1.2
- figurative the power to direct and control〈喻〉控制; 管束, 约束：
management is criticized for its unwillingness to let go of the reins of an organization and delegate routine tasks.
管理层因不愿放弃机构控制权并下放日常事务的权力而受到批评。
with obj. and adverbial
1- cause (a horse) to stop or slow down by pulling on its reins用缰绳勒（马）使停步或放慢步子, 勒（马）：
he reined in his horse and waited for her.
他勒住马等她。
1.1
- cause (a horse) to change direction by pulling on its reins用缰绳勒（马）使转向, 勒（马）使转向：
he reined the mare's head about and rode off.
他勒马掉头而去。
1.2
- keep under control; restrain控制住, 约束：
with an effort, she reined back her impatience
她好不容易才按捺住了焦躁的心情。
critics noted the failure of the government to rein in public spending.
评论家们指出政府未能控制住公共开支。
USAGE
The idiomatic phrase a free rein, which derives from the literal meaning of using reins to control a horse, is sometimes misinterpreted and written as a free reign. More than a third of the citations for the phrase in the Oxford English Corpus use reign instead of rein.
短语
draw rein
- Brit. stop one's horse〈英〉收缰勒马。
(a) free rein
- freedom of action or expression（行动, 言论）自由：
he was given free rein to work out his designs.
他获得自主设计的充分自由。
keep a tight rein on
- exercise strict control over; allow little freedom to严加控制, 严加约束：
her only chance of survival was to keep a tight rein on her feelings and words.
她仅有的活命机会在于牢牢控制住自己的感情和言谈。
词源
Middle English: from Old French rene, based on Latin retinere 'retain'.