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You're not wrong, but the situation is complicated by "reins" often being used to talk metaphorically about being in control. Alexander is "at the reins" of th
by Crito 13y ago
You're not wrong, but the situation is complicated by "reins" often being used to talk metaphorically about being in control. Alexander is "at the reins" of the NSA. Obama "took the reins" during his first inauguration.
- mpclark 13y agoYes, I believe that is the origin of the phrase "reined in". Reining in is the act of pulling on the reins to stop a horse.
- Crito 13y agoWell, I'd say that "reining in" refers to pulling back on the reins to stop the horse, while being "at the reins" or "having the reins" refers to merely possessing them (they could be used to stop the horse, or turn the horse, or have it speed up, etc).