The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rein \Rein\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reined (r?nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reining.]
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To govern or direct with the reins; as, to rein a horse one way or another.
He mounts and reins his horse.
--Chapman. -
To restrain; to control; to check.
Being once chafed, he can not Be reined again to temperance.
--Shak.To rein in or To rein up, (a) to check the speed of, or cause to stop, by drawing the reins. Hence, (a) to cause (a person) to slow down or cease some activity; -- to rein in is used commonly of superiors in a chain of command, ordering a subordinate to moderate or cease some activity deemed excessive.
Usage examples of "to rein in".
His failure to keep BatDiv Twelve in closer company before Yanakov sprang his surprise in the sim might have indicated a failure to appreciate the need to rein in Trailman's attack mentality, but if that had been the case, he'd rectified it since.
By the time Bass had been able to rein in the gallowglasses, Turks, Moors, Arabs, and assorted Englishmen, every last Swede had been shot or hacked down.
By the time they managed to rein in the horses, and turn them around, the Ethiopians were already there.
Then my captains managed to rein in their sailors as I called back my marines, and ordered them to lock the pirates in the holds of their own ships.
His failure to keep BatDiv Twelve in closer company before Yanakov sprang his surprise in the sim might have indicated a failure to appreciate the need to rein in Trailman’.
Something had to be done to rein in the overweening Spanish and Moorish factions, lest all Italy be laid waste by them and their imported barbarians.
She vastly preferred officers she might need to rein in occasionally to being stuck with ones too timid to act on their own.
He held up a hand to rein in his men, then approached the British fliers alone.
It was taking a tremendous amount of control for him to rein in his passions and indulge this love play.
Smart, yes, but very headstrong, and unable or unwilling to rein in her temper.