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3. keep a tight rein on

keep a tight rein on

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keep a tight rein on someone or something

 and keep a close rein on someone or something

Fig. to watch and control someone or something diligently. (Alludes to controlling a horse by a tight grip on the reins.) The office manager kept a tight rein on the staff. Mary keeps a close rein on her children.

See also: keep, on, rein, tight

keep a tight rein on somebody/something

to control someone or something carefully Clarke has consistently pointed to the need to keep a tight rein on government finances. He kept a tight rein on his daughter.

See also: keep, on, rein, tight

keep a tight rein on somebody/something

  also keep somebody/something on a tight rein

to have a lot of control over someone or something He made ends meet by keeping a tight rein on his budget. Our parents always kept us on a pretty tight rein.

See also: keep, on, rein, tight