Free Rein, Not Free Reign
A rein is a strap for controlling a horse. The idiom is often misspelled.
A rein is a long strap used to control a horse. The idiom is *free rein*, not *free reign*: it means letting the reins go slack so the horse chooses its own way, and *rein in* means the opposite. The misspelling with *reign* is common because the meaning seems to fit royalty, but the image is horsemanship throughout. Latin *retinere*, to hold back, gives both *rein* and *retain*.
- A horse strap. *Holding the reins.*
- To restrain. *Reining in spending.*
- Free rein. *Given free rein.*
- Retain — the same root. *To retain.*
- Latin — *retinere*, to hold back. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | rein | A rein. |
| Plural | reins | Reins. |
| Verb | rein | Reining in. |
| Related | retain | To retain. |
| Latin | retinere | To hold back. |
- She pulled on the reins.Riding.
- He was given free rein.Idiom.
- Rein in the budget.Restraint.
Horse idioms in everyday English
- Free rein — full freedom to act
- Rein in — bring under control
- Take the reins — assume control
- Champing at the bit — impatient to start
- Give someone their head — let them go their own way
Old French *rene*, from Latin *retinere*, to hold back.
Is it free rein or free reign?
Free rein. The image is a slack horse rein, not a monarch's rule, though the misspelling is very common.
Is rein related to retain?
Yes. Both come from Latin retinere, to hold back.