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be tall in (one's)/the saddle
To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general was still tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be tall in the saddle when you do.
ride tall in the/(one's) saddle
To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general still rode tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be riding tall in the saddle when you do.
sit tall in the/(one's) saddle
To be or remain proud, stoical, or august in one's manner or composure. Even after two years of a losing war, the general still sat tall in his saddle before his troops. I'll have nothing to do with your schemes or plot. One day, you're going to be locked up and lose everything, and I'll be sitting tall in the saddle when you do.
saddle tramp
1. A cowboy, particularly one who lives a nomadic lifestyle. Primarily heard in US. You can't trust him—he's just a saddle tramp who roams from town to town!
2. One who rides on horseback. Primarily heard in US. A: "I hear hoofbeats." B: "Yes, there's a saddle tramp approaching in the distance."
back in the saddle
Resuming something after an absence. Despite the presence of "saddle," this phrase is rarely used in reference to riding horses. I needed to take a break for a bit, but now, I'm back in the saddle. You've mourned long enough—it's time to get back in the saddle and date again.
be in the saddle
To be in control of a situation; to be in a position of power. Make sure to get good grades now, so that you're in the saddle when it comes time to choose a college. We're still leading in the polls, so nobody panic—we're in the saddle here.
have a burr under one's saddle
Rur. to be irritated by something. Joe has a burr under his saddle because Jane's going out with Bill tonight. Mary must have a burr under her saddle. She's been snapping at me all day.
in the driver's seat
Fig. in control; in charge of things. (As if one were driving and controlling the vehicle.) Now that Fred is in the driver's seat, there is a lot less criticism about how things are being done. Joan can't wait to get into the driver's seat and do what she can to turn things around.
look like a saddle on a sow
Rur. to look ridiculous and out of place. Tom: How do you like my new diamond earring? Jane: It looks like a saddle on a sow. The fancy wheels on that beat-up old car look like a saddle on a sow.
saddle an animal up
to put a saddle on a horse or some other beast of burden. Please saddle my horse up. I have to leave. Would you saddle up my horse for me?
saddle someone with someone or something
Fig. to burden someone with someone or something undesirable, annoying, or difficult to deal with. I apologize for saddling you with my young cousin all day. I didn't mean to saddle you with my problems.
saddle up
1. Lit. to prepare one's horse for riding by putting a saddle on it. Let's saddle up and go for a ride.
2. Fig. to mount one's horse and sit in the saddle. The cowboys saddled up and took off after the rustlers.
saddled with someone or something
Fig. burdened with someone or something. I've been saddled with the children all day. Let's go out tonight. I don't want to be saddled with your work.
back in the saddle
doing something you stopped doing for a period of time Friedman's career seemed to be finished a month ago, but he's back in the saddle and playing for Houston.
in the saddle
in control It looks like those who oppose environmental controls are going to be in the saddle.
Related vocabulary: in the driver's seatEtymology: based on the idea that someone who is in the saddle (seat fastened on the back of a horse) controls the horse's movements
saddle somebody/something with something
to give someone or something a difficult responsibility Student aid often comes as loans, which can saddle students with debt for years. I hope I'm not going to be saddled with all the cooking on this vacation. The company was saddled with many lawsuits.
in the driver's seat
in control of a situation Huge consumer demand for electricity has put energy companies in the driver's seat.
Related vocabulary: in the saddlebe in the saddle
to be in control of a situation With a new leader firmly in the saddle the party looks set for victory at the next election.
in the driver's seat
Also,
in the saddle. In control, in a position of authority. For example,
With the boss on vacation, Mr. Burns was in the driver's seat and enjoying it, or
She waited until after the election, knowing that she'd be in the saddle then. The first expression dates from the 1800s, the second from the early 1600s. Also see
at the helm.
saddle someone with
Burden someone with, as in Before he left on vacation, he saddled his assistant with many tasks he hadn't time to do himself . [Late 1600s]
saddle up
v.1. To put a saddle on a horse: The cowboys saddled up and rode off.
2. To put a saddle on some animal: The cowboy saddled up three horses for the other riders. Some camels don't like it if you saddle them up at night.
saddle with
v. To load or burden someone or something; weigh down someone or something: My boss saddled me with a large amount of work. The recent college graduate was saddled with debt.
saddled with someone or something
mod. burdened with someone or something. I’ve been saddled with the children all day. Let’s go out tonight.
tall in the saddle
mod. proud. (Often with sit.) I’ll still be tall in the saddle when you are experiencing the results of your folly.
in the saddle
1. Prevailing or in control; dominant: "The crisis [in Russia] came to a head when the American-backed reformers were in the saddle" (Michael R. Gordon).
2. Engaged in an activity, especially a job: back in the saddle after a leave of absence from work.