noun
bridle
BREYE-duhl
noun
1
The straps and bit fitted to a horse's head to guide and control it.
"She slipped the bridle over the horse's head before the ride."
2
Figuratively, anything that restrains or checks something.
"A bridle on public spending was needed to bring the deficit down."
verb
1
To react with anger, resentment, or indignation.
"She bridled at the suggestion that she had lied."
2
To control, restrain, or hold something in check.
"He struggled to bridle his temper during the meeting."
How to Use Bridle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gear used to steer a horse, or figuratively, to hold something back — and as a verb, to bristle with indignation.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with bridal (relating to a wedding) — identical pronunciation, completely different meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bridle at a remark
bridle one's anger
horse and bridle
Word Forms
bridled past tense, bridles plural, bridles singular
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She slipped the _____ over the horse's head before the ride.
Etymology
From Old English brīdel, an old Germanic word for a strap or rein, related to the verb "braid".