# hold the reins

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hold-the-reins
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.