His girlfriend keeps him on a tight leash…

His girlfriend keeps him on a tight leash. He doesn’t even get a chance to meet his friends.

Learn new stuff everyday to improve your spoken English – that’s the golden mantra.

His English wife keeps him on a tight leash.

The phrase is – on a tight leash.

Let’s look at some more illustrations:

1. Sudhir’s mom kept him on a tight leash. She was a school principal and very particular about discipline.
2. Everyday some minister or the other is giving controversial statements. The PM needs to keep his colleagues on a tight leash to avoid further embarrassment.
3. The coach has kept his players on a tight leash and asked them not to give statements to the media.
4. His girlfriend keeps him on a tight leash and he doesn’t even get a chance to go out once a week with his friends.
5. Manish doesn’t want to marry because he is afraid that his wife would keep him on a tight leash.
6. Keep your boys on a tight leash, Sher Khan. If there is any complaint against any of them, I’d throw them in jail forever.

Keeping someone on a tight leash means keeping him in tight control, not giving a lot of space to move or do some mischief.

Use this phrase to describe a situation where someone is given very little freedom to do what he wants to do.

Let’s study some more examples:

1. She believes in the philosophy of keeping your kids on a tight leash. She thinks giving freedom to kids would spoil them. I don’t agree with her.
2. You can’t keep your employees on a tight leash these days. They need freedom to be able to apply their creativity and initiative.
3. TV channels need to keep their reporters on a tight leash. These days they are trying to manufacture news where none exists.
4. The owners of this company keep their managers on a tight leash. You would have to do exactly as you are asked. I can’t work in such an environment.