pull in the reins

To begin doing something more carefully or cautiously; to regain or tighten control over someone or something. This thesis you're planning is becoming wildly unfocused—I think you should pull in the reins a bit! I wish those parents would pull in the reins on their kids—the little devils are tearing the place apart!

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Henriette	awn-ree-ET (French), hen-ree-E-tə (German), hen-ree-ED-de (Danish), hen-ree-ET-te (Norwegian)	French, German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian
HipÓLito	ee-PO-lee-to (Spanish)	Spanish, Portuguese
Travers	TRA-vərz	English (Rare)
Leofsige	-	Anglo-Saxon
Tivoli	-	Various
Timaios	-	Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek