leash
gb/lˈiʃ/ us/lˈiʃ/
B1
English
póráz, pórázra tesz, pórázon tart, szoros ellenőrzés, féken tart
NOUN
B1
1
póráz
A2
Usage pattern:
on a/the leash; (put) [animal] on a leash
She clipped the leash onto the dog’s collar before crossing the street.
Mielőtt átment volna az utcán, rácsatolta a pórázt a kutya nyakörvére.
The park has a separate area where dogs can run without a leash.
A parkban van egy külön rész, ahol a kutyák póráz nélkül futkározhatnak.
I bought a longer leash for hiking.
Learner examples
Put the dog on a leash.
Tedd pórázra a kutyát.
My dog has a red leash.
A kutyámnak piros póráza van.
Common mistake:
In American English, leash is common; lead is more common in British English for this meaning.
Meaning
strap for controlling an animal
Collocations
dog leash
|cat leash
|retractable leash
|leash and collar
|on a leash
|off-leash area
|leash laws
|hold the leash
|attach the leash
|clip on the leash
Synonyms
lead (Common in British English for a dog leash.)
|
tether (More general; can be any rope or chain used to tie something.)
Antonyms
freedom (The state of not being physically restrained or held.)
Themes
animals
|pets
|daily_life
|outdoors
Definition
A long strap or rope used to hold a dog.
A strap, rope, or chain used to keep a dog or other animal under control, usually attached to a collar or harness.
VERB
B1
2
pórázra tesz
A2
pórázon tart
A2
Usage pattern:
leash [animal]
Please leash your dog while you’re on the trail.
Kérjük, tartsa pórázon a kutyáját, amíg az ösvényen tartózkodik.
He leashed the puppy and led it outside.
Pórázra tette a kiskutyát, és kivezette.
Dogs must be leashed in this part of the beach.
Learner examples
I always leash my dog near roads.
Utak közelében mindig pórázon tartom a kutyámat.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse leash (verb) with unleash (the opposite: let free).
Meaning
attach a leash to an animal
Collocations
leash the dog
|leash your dog
|keep the dog leashed
|properly leashed
|leash and muzzle
|leash before leaving
|leash for safety
Synonyms
tether (Implies tying to a fixed point; not necessarily holding a leash.)
|
put on a lead (Common phrasing in British English.)
Antonyms
unleash (To let an animal (or something figurative) go free.)
Themes
animals
|pets
|daily_life
Definition
To put a leash on a dog (or other animal).
To put a leash on an animal or keep an animal controlled with a leash.
NOUN
B2
3
póráz
B2
Usage pattern:
keep [someone/something] on a (tight/short) leash
The company kept the project on a tight leash after earlier mistakes.
A korábbi hibák után a cég szoros ellenőrzés alatt tartotta a projektet.
As a new employee, she felt she was on a short leash.
Új alkalmazottként úgy érezte, rövid pórázon tartják.
The committee tried to keep public spending on a leash.
Learner examples
My parents kept me on a tight leash when I was younger.
A szüleim fiatalabb koromban rövid pórázon tartottak.
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually figurative and often appears with keep ... on a tight/short leash.
Meaning
close control or restraint
Collocations
a tight leash
|a short leash
|keep someone on a leash
|hold someone on a tight leash
|put spending on a leash
|keep costs on a short leash
Synonyms
restraint (More general; not necessarily the idea of someone controlling someone else.)
|
constraint (Often used for rules, limits, or conditions.)
Antonyms
free rein (The state of being allowed to act freely without much control.)
Themes
power
|work
|society
|relationships
Definition
Strong control that does not allow much freedom.
A strong limit on someone’s freedom or behavior; close control over what someone can do.
VERB
B2
4
féken tart
B2
Usage pattern:
leash [something] (e.g., anger, spending, ambition)
The new rules are meant to leash risky lending.
Az új szabályok célja, hogy féken tartsák a kockázatos hitelezést.
She tried to leash her impatience during the long meeting.
Próbálta féken tartani a türelmetlenségét a hosszú értekezlet alatt.
Central banks raised rates to leash inflation.
Learner examples
He tried to leash his anger.
Megpróbálta féken tartani a haragját.
Common mistake:
In figurative use, English more often uses keep/hold ... in check; leash can sound stronger or more vivid.
Meaning
restrict or keep under control
Collocations
leash your anger
|leash spending
|leash costs
|leash inflation
|leash criticism
|leash ambitions
Synonyms
rein in (Common and natural for limiting or controlling something.)
|
curb (Often used for reducing something undesirable (spending, violence, inflation).)
Antonyms
unleash (To allow something powerful to happen freely or strongly.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|society
Definition
To control something and stop it from going too far.
To restrain, limit, or keep something under close control, especially behavior, emotion, or activity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
leash
IPA
GB/lˈiʃ/
US/lˈiʃ/
Syllables & stress
leash (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (leash)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: leash
- Plural: leashes
Verb
- Base: leash
- 3rd Person Singular: leashes
- Present Participle: leashing
- Past: leashed
Word family
Forms
leashes
noun
leashing
verb
leashed
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unleash
verb B2
Expressions
keep [someone/something] on a short leash
1/kˈip sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈɔn ə ʃˈɔɹt lˈiʃ/
fixed phrase
give little freedom
To control someone and not let them do much.
Examples
- They kept the interns on a short leash until they learned the process.
- Her parents kept her on a short leash in high school.
- After the scandal, the board kept the CEO on a short leash.
Learner examples
- His parents kept him on a short leash.
keep [someone/something] on a tight leash
1/kˈip sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ ˈɔn ə tˈaɪt lˈiʃ/
fixed phrase
control very closely
To watch and control someone very carefully.
Examples
- The new owner kept the staff on a tight leash at first.
- Regulators want to keep cryptocurrency exchanges on a tight leash.
- During the crisis, the CFO kept spending on a tight leash.
Learner examples
- My boss keeps our work on a tight leash.
leash up
1/lˈiʃ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
put a leash on
To put a leash on a dog.
Examples
- Could you leash up the dog before the delivery arrives?
- He leashed the puppy up and headed to the vet.
- Please leash your dogs up near the parking lot.
Learner examples
- Leash up your dog, please.
off the leash
1/ˈɔf ðə lˈiʃ/
fixed phrase
free; not controlled
Not controlled; free to move or act.
Examples
- Dogs can be off the leash in the fenced area.
- Once the kids were off the leash at summer camp, they stayed up late every night.
- The new policy let managers go off the leash and make quicker decisions.
Learner examples
- My dog is off the leash in the park.
- After exams, I feel off the leash.
on a leash
1/ˈɔn ə lˈiʃ/
fixed phrase
restrained; closely controlled
Controlled; not free to move or act.
Examples
- All dogs must be on a leash in this park.
- The editor kept the writer on a leash until the facts were checked.
- Investors want the company’s spending on a leash this year.
Learner examples
- The dog is on a leash.
slip the leash
1/slˈɪp ðə lˈiʃ/
idiom
literary
escape control or limits
To escape control and become free.
Examples
- The startup slipped the leash and began operating independently.
- Once the rumor slipped the leash, it spread across the office in hours.
- He slipped the leash of his old routines and tried something new.
strain at the leash
1/stɹˈeɪn ˈæt ðə lˈiʃ/
idiom
be eager and impatient to start
To be very ready and wanting to start doing something quickly.
Examples
- The young athletes were straining at the leash before the competition began.
- She was straining at the leash to start her new job.
strain at the leash
1/stɹˈeɪn ˈæt ðə lˈiʃ/
idiom
eager but held back
To want to start quickly but be stopped from doing it.
Examples
- The team was straining at the leash to launch the new product.
- After months of training, she was straining at the leash to compete again.
- Investors are straining at the leash for signs of growth.