short leash

noun

A strict set of rules, or great scrutiny or oversight which limit one's freedom of action.

“Their supervisors keep the workers on a short leash.”

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Meanings

nounshort leash (plural short leashes)

plural short leashes

  1. idiomaticA strict set of rules, or great scrutiny or oversight which limit one's freedom of action.

    Their supervisors keep the workers on a short leash.

    2 more examples

    The employee was put on probation after her latest mistakes and given a short leash.

    That's Don Pianta's daughter, Francesca. She's head-over-heels for Frankie. Seems like she's got Frankie on a pretty short leash, but... Hey they're happy, right?

    2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Rogueport
Cite this entry
APA

short leash. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/short%20leash

MLA

“short leash.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/short%20leash. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “short leash,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/short%20leash.

Source: short leash on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.