pull the reins in on someone

present singular third person pulls the reins in on someone · participle present pulling the reins in on someone · participle past pulled the reins in on someone · past pulled the reins in on someone

1. To restrict, curtail, curb.

   1966, Mike Nesmith, Different Drum, 1967, Linda Ronstadt (vocalist), The Stone Poneys, Different Drum (single), Yes and I ain't sayin' you ain't pretty, / All I'm sayin's I'm not ready / For any person, place or thing / To try and pull the reins in on me.

   2 more examples

   Now, given Milligan's deliberately annoying escapades, Caul was perfectly willing and able to pull the reins in on Billy (and Milligan freely agrees with this), but he was never given the chance.

   1996, Larry Michelson, William J. Ray, Handbook of Dissociation: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Perspectives, page 605

   Later on you will still have to pull the reins in on yourself, from time to time.

   2006, Albert Rayl, B to B CANDLE MAKING - Beginners to Business, page 12