Idiom: keep someone on a tight leash
Meaning
Idiom: keep someone on a tight leash (keep someone on a short leash)
- to closely control someone’s actions and allow them very little freedom to do the things they want to do.
Note: A leash is a strap or rope that is used to restrain a dog or other animal (see the picture at the right). A dog wears a collar around it's neck and the leash is attached to the collar.
Example sentences
— It’s amazing she stays with that man when he always keeps her on a tight leash.
— Since I made a huge mistake in our quarterly report, my boss has been keeping me on a short leash.
— I have to keep my two-year old son on a tight leash or he'll get a mile away in two minutes.
— We'll have to keep our teenager on a short leash during her first year of college.
— Wow, you have to call your parents every evening? They really keep you on a tight leash.
— With the iPhone's location feature my dad keeps me on a short leash.
— Let's keep the new accounting assistant on a tight leash during her probation period.
— I quit my job because I was kept on such a tight leash I couldn't do even the simplest task without supervision.
— We keep the tour group on a tight leash whenever we pass through customs and immigration to make sure everyone gets through.
— You're 16 years old and you can't go to the mall by yourself? Why do your parents keep you on such a short leash?
Synonyms
- have someone on a string
- in someone's clutches
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- Idiom: keep someone on a tight leash
