hold the reins
To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The manager likes to hold the reins at this office.”
“You should hold the reins while the teacher is out of the room.”
“Who will hold the reins if the captain gets sick during the trip?”
“After the founder retired, his daughter stepped in to hold the reins of the family business.”
“During the three-month project, the lead designer will hold the reins to ensure every detail matches the client's vision.”
“The local government continues to hold the reins of the city's transport system despite calls for private ownership.”
“Although the board of directors makes the final decisions, the chief executive continues to hold the reins during the company's daily operations.”
The term is a nineteenth-century metaphor derived from the standard method of controlling a horse or a team of horses. The phrase functions as a direct extension of equestrian management, where the tension and direction of the leather straps dictated the animal's progress and pace.
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apron-string hold
An estate held by a man during his wife's life.
- 02
buy and hold
A passive investment strategy where an investor purchases an asset and retains it for many years, rather than trading it frequently.
- 03
don't hold your breath
Don't wait. Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned is unlikely to happen soon or at all.
- 04
hold a grudge
To stay angry (at someone or something).
- 05
hold a light
Synonym of hold a candle.
- 06
hold back
To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power.
- 07
hold by the button
To detain in conversation to the point of weariness or tedium; to bore while tallking to
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hold cheap
To have a low esteem for (someone or something); to hold in contempt; to look down upon.
Last updated August 10, 2026