take the reins
Synonym of take control.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“It is time for you to take the reins.”
“When the manager left the company, the assistant had to take the reins of the project.”
“After the sudden resignation of the director, the board asked the vice president to take the reins and stabilize the organization.”
- 01
be taken ill
To become ill.
- 02
cross to take up
Alternative form of cross to bear.
- 03
forget to take one's medication this morning
To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.
- 04
get taken in
To be fooled; to fall for.
- 05
give and take
A process of compromise or accommodation.
- 06
give someone an inch and someone will take a mile
Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
- 07
have one's name taken
To receive a yellow card.
- 08
hold the reins
To be in charge, to be in control, as of a business, political organization, or other group.
Last updated August 10, 2026