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ride herd on

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ride herd on someone or something

Fig. to supervise someone or something. (Alludes to a cowboy supervising cattle.) I'm tired of having to ride herd on my kids all the time. My job is to ride herd on this project and make sure everything is done right.

See also: herd, on, ride

ride herd on somebody/something

  (American)

to be responsible for controlling a group of people and their actions The new editor will ride herd on the staff, checking on the overall policy and tone of the paper.

See also: herd, on, ride

ride herd on

Keep close watch or tight control over, as in Aunt Martha is always riding herd on her bridge club, making sure they follow the rules . This idiom alludes to the cowboy who rides around a herd of cattle to keep them together. [Late 1800s]

See also: herd, on, ride

ride herd on

To keep watch or control over.

See also: herd, on, ride