Both Uses of
rein
in
Angelfall
- But I rein in my thoughts.†
p. 203.3 *rein in = restrain
- Amazingly, I rein it in.†
p. 244.1
Definitions:
-
(1)
(rein as in: to rein in their activities) to restrain or control; or a means of controlThe 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) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
To "rein in" or to "keep a tight rein" is to restrain.
To "give free rein" is not to restrain (not to exercise control over)