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Meaning of bridle in English:

bridle

Pronunciation /ˈbrʌɪd(ə)l/

See synonyms for bridle

Translate bridle into Spanish

noun

  • 1The headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.

    ‘grooms came at once to take the bridles’
    • ‘The king ordered eight horses with gold-plaited bridles led into the hall.’
    • ‘The man reaching for the bridle saw Kemp and dropped the bridle of his horse like it was a hot poker.’
    • ‘Lila nodded and offered them two horses' bridles.’
    • ‘Flags flew on each wagon and there were ribbons on the horses' bridles.’
    • ‘She held the horses by their bridles, but as soon as the others neared, she dropped the reins and rushed to the girl.’
    • ‘Marcia dismounted and grabbed the bridles of both horses, patting them on the neck to calm them.’
    • ‘She jerked the strap of the bridle to emphasize the word ‘die’.’
    • ‘He smiled at me as he fitted the bridle onto the horse's head.’
    • ‘I closed my fist around his bridle and stared the horse in the eye.’
    • ‘Theo slipped the bridle onto the horse, and leaned over, picking the book up.’
    • ‘His female companion went out to the horse, taking its bridle and led it toward the back of the house.’
    • ‘The bewhiskered older man held the bridle of the buggy horse until Sam was settled in his seat.’
    • ‘Struggling a bit, Adam threw the bridle and reins over Midnight's head.’
    • ‘Jack reappeared at her side carrying two bare-back riding pads and two bridles.’
    • ‘It was a miniature of Tam's horse, very detailed, with a bridle, saddle, and individual hairs in its mane and tale.’
    • ‘With halters underneath the bridles and their lunches safely tucked into their backpacks they set out.’
    • ‘I unhooked Glory from the crossties and took his halter off, before placing his bridle on and adjusting the straps.’
    • ‘She buckled the girth quickly and retrieved her bridle.’
    • ‘He rides her home and ties her up in the stable (or takes the horse for shoeing) before removing the bridle.’
    • ‘Each horse had two saddles and bridles each, one set for English and one for western.’
    1. 1.1A line, rope, or device that is used to restrain or control the action or movement of something.
      ‘Also shown was a variant in which the brass fence guides were replaced by wooden arms secured by a bridle.’
      • ‘The dream of every cattle farmer in Namibia: to get that coloured rosette on the bull's bridle.’
    2. 1.2Nautical A mooring cable.
      ‘My first mate retrieved our towing bridle from a locker while Jeff flaked out our anchor line.’
      • ‘A deck hand was killed when a tow bridle unexpectedly became taut and pinned her against a tugboat railing.’
      • ‘They rigged a towing bridle and re-established the tow with the tug.’
      rope, cord, line, guy, piece of cordage
      View synonyms

verb

  • 1with object Put a bridle on (a horse)

    ‘five horses, saddled and bridled, were tied by the reins to branches of trees’
    • ‘Saddling and bridling a horse would be a subject of its own and I will certainly follow up.’
    • ‘Maxim had already saddled and bridled both their horses and was waiting patiently.’
    • ‘They learn to saddle and bridle the horse, to brush and feed them, and to clean the stall.’
    • ‘He saddled and bridled Ebony, untied the halter, and led his horse carefully through the trees.’
    • ‘There, she found her horse, bridled him, and jumped to his back, not even bothering about a saddle.’
    • ‘Katy suddenly forgot she was now supposed to be bridling her horse.’
    • ‘In the yard a tangle of horses were being bridled and arranged in rough rows.’
    • ‘I'm the only one who can saddle or bridle him without trouble.’
    • ‘She bridled Lady and led both horses out into the rain.’
    • ‘After letting the others go, Faye held the one remaining horse's head while her companion bridled him.’
    • ‘In the back, behind the inn, their horses were waiting, already saddled and bridled.’
    • ‘Her tack was resting on a bale of hay in front of the stall, and soon the mare was saddled and bridled.’
    • ‘Then I placed on my helmet and bridled him quickly.’
    • ‘She found Jare after a little bit of hunting and led him back to camp where she bridled him, and mounted.’
    • ‘It was my bay mare, saddled and bridled, and tied by a neck rope to a young tree.’
    • ‘As if of some amazing coincidence, a large white gelding broke from the ruins, still saddled and bridled.’
    • ‘Soon after, a saddled and bridled chestnut horse came striding into view.’
    • ‘Occasionally, she would bite at me because she didn't like to be bridled.’
    • ‘I quickly put on the saddle and placed my helmet on before bridling.’
    • ‘He spent days and nights with one catch-horse always bridled, ready to ride down strays.’
    harness, yoke, saddle, bridle, hitch up, couple
    View synonyms
    1. 1.1Bring (something) under control; curb.
      ‘the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue’
      • ‘Some-one please bridle this infamous brute, before it is too late!’
      • ‘These symbols of solidarity circumscribe the Amish world and bridle the forces of assimilation.’
      • ‘But he hoped that they would be bridled: ‘We can control them,’ he said.’
      • ‘Now, will you allow yourself to be saddled and bridled?’
      • ‘Phyllis was motivated by vindictiveness; others bridled and saddled men for profit.’
      curb, restrain, hold back, bite back, control, keep control of, keep in check, check, keep a tight rein on, rein back, rein in
      View synonyms

  • 2no object Show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up one's head and drawing in one's chin.

    ‘she bridled at his tone’
    • ‘Anna bridled at the implication that she couldn't look after herself.’
    • ‘How she had bridled at his unsavory opinion of her.’
    • ‘Almost alone among them, Morrissey bridled at the credit he got.’
    • ‘Mexico's tequila makers bridled at its touting of Tequiza's tequila base, claiming it was misleading.’
    • ‘It's as if the job now strikes them as a habit, and I think their fans are bridling at that.’
    • ‘In his time, Mark Twain bridled over French claims of superiority.’
    • ‘I criticized him on a lot of things, and he took it in stride, but he always bridled if I called him a politician.’
    • ‘Today's students bridle against the academic left's assault on America and American institutions, he argues.’
    • ‘At first she seems to bridle at that, but not for long.’
    • ‘Naturally, they bridle at suggestions that their pursuit of a European identity is mimicry.’
    • ‘The exclusivity of the club means that non-members bridle when they are lectured by the rich and powerful.’
    • ‘‘I was totally confused by it,’ she says, bridling at the memory.’
    • ‘In Norfolk, Virginia, he bridles when a white man calls him ‘boy’.’
    • ‘Although she bridles at the stridency of the language, it's all or nothing for this group.’
    • ‘Étienne gets into the cab and immediately bridles at the cabby's rude manner.’
    • ‘She had an overpowering urge to cry which she bridled.’
    • ‘Voters also bridle against voting for Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term.’
    • ‘The investment bankers behind the deals bridle at being portrayed as fast-buck artists.’
    • ‘Biographers may bridle at the damage to the reputations of their pet subjects.’
    • ‘Taiwan banks, too, bridle against restrictions that bar them from opening offices on the mainland.’
    bristle, be indignant, become indignant, take offence, take umbrage, be affronted, be offended, get angry, draw oneself up, feel one's hackles rise
    View synonyms

Phrases

    on the bridle

    • (of a horse) ridden with a light but firm contact on the mouth.

    off the bridle

    • (of a horse) ridden on a loose rein to allow it to gallop freely.

Origin

Old English brīdel (noun), brīdlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breidel (noun). bridle (sense 2 of the verb) use is from the action of a horse when reined in.