Meanings
present singular third person holds the reins · participle present holding the reins · participle past held the reins · past held the reins
- idiomaticTo be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.
The convention also delivered a slap to the technocrats who have held the reins of government for more than a decade.
1996 October 7, Michael Serrill, “Mexico's Black Mood”, in Time2 more examples
These terms . . . will place the future behavior of Germany at the dictation of the associated powers regardless of what form of provisional government may hold the reins at Berlin.
1918 November 11, “Washington Believes Foch Will Still Accept Envoys' Signatures”, in Toronto World, page 1While conservatives hold the reins at the SBC, moderates have retained control of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
2003 April 20, Cathy Lynn Grossman, “Baptist missionaries at odds with church”, in USA Today
Origin
A metaphor, based on the usual method of controlling a horse or a team of horses.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish pidellä ohjaksista
- pidellä ohjaksistato be in charge
French tenir les rênes
- tenir les rênesto be in charge
Icelandic hafa bæði tögl og hagldir, hafa bæði töglin og hagldirnar
- hafa bæði tögl og hagldirto be in charge
- hafa bæði töglin og hagldirnarto be in charge
- hafa tögl og hagldirto be in charge
- hafa töglin og hagldirnarto be in charge
Polish trzymać w cuglach
- trzymać w cuglachto be in charge
Cite this entry
hold the reins. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20reins
“hold the reins.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20reins. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hold the reins,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hold%20the%20reins.
Source: hold the reins on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.