rein / reins
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reins
A long strap, usually made of leather, attached to the bit of a riding or draft animal, especially a horse, in order to steer and control it. It is almost always used in the plural.
Der Reiter hielt die Zügel fest in der Hand.
The rider held the reins firmly in his hand.
to hold the reins
To have control or leadership over a situation, project, group, or organization.
Als Projektleiterin hat sie hier die Zügel fest in der Hand.
As project manager, she firmly holds the reins here.
to tighten the reins
To take stricter measures or increase control over a situation or person, often in response to weakening discipline or rising costs.
Nachdem die Ausgaben explodierten, musste die Geschäftsführung die Zügel anziehen.
After expenses exploded, management had to tighten the reins.
to give free rein
To give someone a lot of freedom or loosen control so that the person can act at their own discretion; to give someone a free hand.
Man kann den Auszubildenden nicht von Anfang an die Zügel schießen lassen.
You can't give trainees free rein right from the start.
The word 'Zügel' (reins) is often used metaphorically for 'Kontrolle' (control) or 'Führung' (leadership). All the idioms are based on the idea of steering a horse with reins: sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely.
In diesem Projekt braucht es jemanden, der die Zügel in die Hand nimmt.
This project needs someone who takes the reins.
Although you may think of a single control instrument, 'Zügel' is almost always used in the plural as 'die Zügel' (the reins). This applies to both the literal and the figurative meaning.
Der neue Chef hat die Zügel sofort fest in die Hände genommen.
The new boss immediately took firm hold of the reins.
You can recognize the literal meaning from the context. If it is about horses, riding, or carriages, the leather straps are meant. In all other contexts (management, upbringing, projects), the figurative meaning 'Kontrolle' (control) is meant.
Die Reitlehrerin erklärte, wie man die Zügel richtig hält.
The riding instructor explained how to hold the reins correctly.
The idiom 'die Zügel in der Hand haben' or '... in der Hand halten' means to have full control. It is often formed with verbs like 'haben' (to have) or 'halten' (to hold).
Die Geschäftsführerin hält die Zügel des Unternehmens fest in der Hand.
The managing director keeps a firm hold on the company's reins.
The idiom 'die Zügel anziehen' means to become stricter or exercise more control. The verb in this expression is 'anziehen' (to tighten).
Da die Kinder immer unpünktlicher wurden, mussten die Eltern die Zügel anziehen.
Since the children were becoming more and more unpunctual, the parents had to tighten the reins.
The expression 'jemandem die Zügel schießen lassen' means to give a person a lot of freedom. Note that the person who receives the freedom is in the dative.
Ein guter Chef lässt seinen Mitarbeitern auch mal die Zügel schießen.
A good boss sometimes gives his employees free rein too.
bridle
Zaum and Zügel are both part of the equipment used to guide a horse. The Zaum is worn on the horse's head; the Zügel are the long straps attached to it that the rider holds in their hands.
Vor dem Losreiten nimmt die Reiterin die Zügel in beide Hände.
Before riding off, the rider takes the reins in both hands.
Vor dem Losreiten legt die Reiterin dem Pferd den Zaum an.
Before riding off, the rider puts the bridle on the horse.
