rein in
Keep under control
To rein in is to restrain or control, from the literal action of pulling back on a horse's reins to slow or stop it.
You can rein in spending, rein in your emotions, or rein in an overeager employee.
The phrase suggests checking something that's moving too fast or going too far: The Fed raised rates to rein in inflation.
restrain
Limit freedom of movement
constrain · hold back · contain · suppress · moderate · temper · limit · restrict · govern · regulate
budget
Plan for spending
debt · overspending · fiscal · austerity · cutbacks · economize · tighten · frugal · thrift · belt-tightening
- restrainhold back, suppress, hold in, keep in, keep down
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- cutbackscutback, cutbacks, decrease, layoff, reduction
- expressions about containmentboxed in, bottled up, hemmed in, penned in, locked in
- Horse Idiomshold your horses, dark horse, high horse, straight from the horse's mouth, horse sense
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta