58 uses
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Definition
to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" — to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" — do not restrain
- "the reins of government" — means of control
- "the reins of the horse" — leather straps used with a bit to control a horse
- "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm," said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage.1.5 (68% in)
- The horses, feeling slack reins, stretched down their necks to crop the tender spring grass, and the patient hounds lay down again in the soft red dust and looked up longingly at the chimney swallows circling in the gathering dusk.1.1 (45% in)
- He had alighted and tossed his bridle reins to a pickaninny and stood looking up at her, his drowsy gray eyes wide with a smile and the sun so bright on his blond hair that it seemed like a cap of shining silver.1.2 (21% in)
- Gerald did not see his daughter in the shadow of the trees, and he drew rein in the road, patting his horse's neck with approbation.1.2 (42% in)
- He dismounted with difficulty, because his knee was stiff, and, slipping the reins over his arm, stumped toward her.1.2 (44% in)
- He tossed the reins of his horse to a small pickaninny standing near and started up the steps.1.2 (99% in)
- And 'tis herself at the reins.1.5 (57% in)
- With Carreen afraid of the poor beasts and Sue with hands like sadirons when it comes to reins and you, Puss—1.5 (58% in)
- And, besides, Beatrice Tarleton never willingly permitted anyone, black or white, to hold reins when her arms were out of slings.1.5 (60% in)
- Scarlett, who had hoped for a freer rein when she escaped Mammy's supervision, discovered to her sorrow that Uncle Peter's standards of ladylike conduct, especially for Mist' Charles' widow, were even stricter than Mammy's.2.8 (86% in)
- "Hold the reins," said Rhett shortly, swinging to the ground and tossing the bridle to Uncle Peter.2.14 (57% in)
- She turned to Scarlett as Phil picked up the reins.2.14 (70% in)
- The boy seeing her, drew rein, smiled delightedly and started to dismount.3.18 (15% in)
- When he saw her standing in the mud, Mr. Wilkes drew rein with a smile of pleasure and, dismounting, came toward her.3.18 (18% in)
- He reined in so suddenly the horse went back on its haunches, pawing the air.3.21 (48% in)
- He gathered the reins again and put on his hat.3.21 (50% in)
- The crowd suddenly gave a lane for a careening carriage and through the lane came the frail and elegant Mrs. Elsing, standing up in the front of her victoria, reins in one hand, whip in the other.3.21 (56% in)
- He climbed onto the seat beside her and picked up the reins.3.23 (51% in)
- He burst into a roar of laughter and slapped the reins upon the horse's back.3.23 (51% in)
- But he drew rein abruptly, almost at Marietta Street, in the shadow of a warehouse not yet touched by the flames.3.23 (61% in)
- Rhett sat still, the reins lax in his hands, looking after them, a curious moody look on his swarthy face.3.23 (67% in)
- "We're out of town now," said Rhett briefly, drawing rein, "and on the main road to Rough and Ready."3.23 (75% in)
- She had never in her life been out in the sunshine without a hat or veils, never handled reins without gloves to protect the white skin of her dimpled hands.3.24 (16% in)
- She gripped the reins tighter with hands that were blistered and slapped them fiercely on the horse's back, her aching arms burning at the movement.3.24 (21% in)
- The exhausted horse did not respond to the whip or reins but shambled on, dragging his feet, stumbling on small rocks and swaying as if ready to fall to his knees.3.24 (21% in)
- A little farther on, Scarlett drew rein in front of the avenue of oaks that led from the road to old Angus MacIntosh's house.3.24 (22% in)
- She flapped the reins and urged the horse forward.3.24 (23% in)
- Scarlett laid down the reins and pulled up her skirt.3.24 (30% in)
- As he slowly dismounted and tossed the bridle reins over the hitching post, Scarlett's breath came back to her as suddenly and painfully as after a blow in the stomach.3.26 (14% in)
- She did not draw rein but as she galloped madly toward them, she waved her arm back in the direction from which she had come.3.27 (5% in)
- She gathered up the reins and clapped her heels against the animal's sides and then abruptly pulled him in, her face twisting with horror.3.27 (19% in)
- The white brittle mask was back again and she picked up the reins.3.29 (90% in)
- Then Cathleen flapped the bridle reins sharply and the old mule moved off.3.29 (93% in)
- There were a few wagons loading at the freight cars and several mud-splashed buggies with rough-looking strangers at the reins but only two carriages.4.33 (4% in)
- Overgrown paths led to what had been houses—old lawns thick with dead weeds, carriage blocks bearing names she knew so well, hitching posts which would never again know the knot of reins.4.35 (6% in)
- He laughed and slapped the reins against the horse's back.4.35 (22% in)
- He sat staring at her, gray faced, the reins slack in his hands.4.35 (41% in)
- He always drew rein and talked and sometimes he tied his horse to the back of the buggy and drove her on her rounds.4.38 (66% in)
- She tired more easily these days than she liked to admit and she was always silently grateful when he took the reins.4.38 (66% in)
- When he climbed into the buggy and took the reins from her and threw her some impertinent remark, she felt young and gay and attractive again, for all her worries and her increasing bulk.4.38 (69% in)
- "Get out!" she cried, tugging at the reins and suddenly nausea overwhelmed her.4.38 (82% in)
- He picked up the reins and clucked to the horse.4.38 (85% in)
- Will kept his eyes on the horse and flapped the reins.4.39 (32% in)
- He drew rein and the horse stopped and snorted.4.39 (76% in)
- He didn't draw rein when he come near the top and we seen he was goin' to jump the pasture fence and we hopped up, scared to death, and then he yelled: 'Look, Ellen!4.39 (99% in)
- Will waited a minute for her to speak and when she did not he picked up the reins.4.39 (**% in)
- "Yes," answered Archie briefly, as he flapped the reins.4.42 (54% in)
- Not all Melanie's pleading or Frank's promises of higher pay would induce him to take up the reins again.4.42 (88% in)
- Averting her nose, she flapped the reins smartly across the horse's back and hurried him past and around the bend of the road.4.44 (15% in)
- She picked up the reins.4.44 (82% in)
- Big Sam was nowhere to be seen and, as she drew rein to wait for him, she worried about his absence, fearing the Yankees might have already picked him up.4.44 (86% in)
- Swiftly she flapped the reins on the horse's back and clutched the pistol.4.44 (88% in)
- "Run, Miss Scarlett!" yelled Sam, grappling with the negro; and Scarlett, shaking and screaming, clutched up the reins and whip and laid them both over the horse.4.44 (94% in)
- She drew rein as he came up and he flung himself into the buggy, his big body crowding her to one side.4.44 (97% in)
- "Gimme dem lines," said Sam, snatching the reins from her.4.44 (99% in)
- I'm riding you with a slack rein, my pet, but don't forget that I'm riding with curb and spurs just the same.5.48 (**% in)
- Confusion and dismay filled her when she saw Rhett alight from his horse and toss the reins over the arm of the cast-iron negro boy who stood at the sidewalk.5.57 (6% in)
- On days that were bright and clear the two could be seen riding down Peachtree Street, Rhett reining in his big black horse to keep pace with the fat pony's gait.5.59 (18% in)
There are no more uses of "rein" in Gone with the Wind.
Typical Usage
(best examples)