short leash
Very limited freedom
A short leash describes tight control over someone's actions or freedom.
The metaphor comes from restraining a dog—the shorter the leash, the less room to roam.
A boss who keeps an employee on a short leash monitors them closely and allows little independence: After the accounting errors, the CFO kept the whole department on a short leash.
Neck encirclement
- tetherFastening cord for animals
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
- chainLinked segments forming length
walking · heel · retractable · adjustable · clip · dog park · pulling · handler
Overseeing people or processes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- micromanagementExcessive supervisory control
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- restrictionLimit on action
authority · dominance · watchfulness · scrutiny · command · regulation · strictness · accountability
Developing abilities through practice
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
compliance · behavior modification · consequences · boundaries · expectations · accountability · reinforcement · conditioning
Limit on action
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- curtailmentAct of reducing scope
- tight budgetSeverely limited funds
cap · ceiling · quota · allowance · parameters · confines · bounds · margins
collar
Neck encirclement
chain · walking · heel · retractable · adjustable · clip · dog park · pulling · handler · training lead
supervision
Overseeing people or processes
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- micromanagementExcessive supervisory control
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
restriction · authority · dominance · watchfulness · scrutiny · command · regulation · strictness · accountability · checking in
training
Developing abilities through practice
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
rules · compliance · behavior modification · consequences · boundaries · expectations · accountability · reinforcement · conditioning · guidance
restriction
Limit on action
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- curtailmentAct of reducing scope
tight budget · cap · ceiling · quota · allowance · parameters · confines · bounds · margins · threshold
- Leash Trainingheel position, figure eights, tension release
- power metaphorsiron fist, iron grip, reins, puppet master, pulling strings
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
short leashfree rein
Unrestricted freedom to act
carte blanche · free hand · free reign · blank check · laissez-faire
short leashempowerment
Gaining authority or confidence
self-direction · independence · self-governance · delegated authority · creative freedom
short, leash, shorter, shortest, shorten, shortened, shortening, shortly, shortness