leading reins
leading strings AmE

We are afraid that the Commission is being kept on leading reins too much.

The priest himself took the leading reins of Blade's beast.

This time Godgar made me no answer, but set his horse on, pulling sharply at the leading reins.

Jaelle took the leading reins off of the chervines' bridles.

Brother John came out from the tiny paddock leading the two tall horses, the mules following on leading reins.

But suddenly the great double doors below were hurled open, their solid weight crashing back to the wall, and the hoof-beats, by the sound of them of horses being walked on leading reins, clashed inward from the cobbles of the apron and thudded dully on the beaten earth floor within.

The horses, white-eyed, swam desperately behind the reed boats that Sharpe noted had no caulking of any kind, but depended on skilful close weaving to keep the water out, and the tug of the horses' leading reins strained the light wooden frames and stretched the weave so that the boats let in water alarmingly.

I cannot be so formal with one who is barely out of leading strings.

She held up the leading strings in a tight fist.

And the sense of a child on leading strings.

"None of you is ready to be off leading strings.

Light, she had not heard that since Harine was still in leading strings.

'They probably start training them in their leading strings,' I commented.

All, perhaps, but the bishop of Winchester, who had helped him to cut himself free from their leading strings at last.

Small children's clothing featured leading strings at the shoulder.

He tottered with all the grace of a babe in leading strings, making his way to the window.

Leading strings are strings or straps by which to support a child learning to walk.

"Still taking your recruits about in leading strings?"

It seems like only yesterday she was saying we shouldn't be off leading strings, and now she calls us men."

"I will not be in leading strings forever.

She has one son in leading strings.

After this period, I threw away all leading strings, and plunged myself into the exciting world of painting."

Looking down Ridge Road they could see the long line of farmers coming up for market, leading strings of pack animals.

As I understand, you have been acquainted with Leon since you were an infant in leading strings?"

"No, I hate to appear in leading strings, but I think we need to call for reinforcements.

Well behind the caravan rode a family on heavily laden draft horses, leading strings of pack mules.

Leading strings

The design of modern parent-assisted baby walkers is similar to leading strings in that the child is suspended upright while learning to walk.

Matthew and Farley, closer in age to James than to Penny, had seldom been at home after the girl was out of leading strings.

With spontaneous cries of delight two of the men who were not leading strings of animals galloped forward in a race to retrieve it.

One must not everlastingly keep them on leading strings ... No organization, no propaganda, however excellent, can alone maintain confidence in the long run.

How odd, that Brutus actually got up the gumption to cut his leading strings and join Pompeius Magnus in Macedonia.