All 5 Uses

rein
in
Sweet Far Thing
(Auto-generated)

I shall go mad trying to rein it in.†
Chpt 3 *
The reins are snapped.†
Chpt 3
"Come on," I say, grabbing hold of her reins.†
Chpt 4
The Gypsy gives a sharp tug on the reins, and Freya turns away, picking up speed until she is in a full gallop that makes my heart pound in rhythm with the strike of her hooves against the road.†
Chpt 4
She holds her temper as tightly as she does the reins of her horse.†
Chpt 4

Definitions:

(1) (rein as in: to rein in their activities)
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 (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
to "give free rein" is not to restrain (not to exercise control over)