To give the rein to

To give the rein to
Rein Rein (r?n), n. [F. r[^e]ne, fr. (assumed) LL. retina, fr. L. retinere to hold back. See {Retain}.] 1. The strap of a bridle, fastened to the curb or snaffle on each side, by which the rider or driver governs the horse. [1913 Webster]

This knight laid hold upon his reyne. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, an instrument or means of curbing, restraining, or governing; government; restraint. ``Let their eyes rove without rein.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{To give rein}, {To give the rein to}, to give license to; to leave withouut restrain.

{To take the reins}, to take the guidance or government; to assume control. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • give\ free\ rein\ to — • give rein to • give free rein to v. phr. To remove all restrictions or limitations from someone or something. When she wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her imagination …   Словарь американских идиом

  • give free rein to something — give/allow sb/sth free/full ˈrein | give/allow free/full ˈrein to sth idiom to give sb complete freedom of action; to allow a feeling to be expressed freely • The designer was given free rein. • The script allows full rein to her larger than life …   Useful english dictionary

  • give full rein to something — give/allow sb/sth free/full ˈrein | give/allow free/full ˈrein to sth idiom to give sb complete freedom of action; to allow a feeling to be expressed freely • The designer was given free rein. • The script allows full rein to her larger than life …   Useful english dictionary

  • give free rein — 2. allow/give (someone) (a) free rein to allow someone to do what they want or go where they want to. The older kids were given free rein to do whatever they wanted. (often + to do something) We shut the kitten out of the bedroom but allowed her… …   New idioms dictionary

  • To give the bag — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To give the hand — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To give the hand of — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To give the head — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To give the lie to — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To give the sack — Give Give (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. {Gave} (g[=a]v); p. p. {Given} (g[i^]v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Giving}.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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