pull the reins in on someone

English

Verb

pull the reins in on someone (third-person singular simple present pulls the reins in on someone, present participle pulling the reins in on someone, simple past and past participle pulled the reins in on someone)

1. To restrict, curtail, curb.
   • 1966, Mike Nesmith, Different Drum, 1967, Linda Ronstadt (vocalist), The Stone Poneys, Different Drum (single),

     Yes and I ain't sayin' you ain't pretty, / All I'm sayin's I'm not ready / For any person, place or thing / To try and pull the reins in on me.

   • 1996, Larry Michelson, William J. Ray, Handbook of Dissociation: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Perspectives, page 605:

     Now, given Milligan's deliberately annoying escapades, Caul was perfectly willing and able to pull the reins in on Billy (and Milligan freely agrees with this), but he was never given the chance.

   • 2006, Albert Rayl, B to B CANDLE MAKING - Beginners to Business, page 12:

     Later on you will still have to pull the reins in on yourself, from time to time.

See also

• pull the reins in on something