reining in

[Moon Palace]

Hello everyone ,

I am puzzled by the use of this phrasal verb: can it be used as intransitive to mean an activity is brought to a stall?

The development of such devices is reining in.

I feel displeased with this wording, but I would like to know if I am being too fussy or if I am right.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[The Curate's Egg]

Yes, it means to lessen something, for example, she reined in her spending (stopped spending so much money). I feel that just saying 'decreasing' would be better.

 

[JamesM]

It is an action performed by someone, as The Curate's Egg's example indicates, so "X is reining in" doesn't work in your context. It could be done in a passive voice - "The development of such devices is being reined in (by someone or something)".

As far as I know, to "rein in" is a figurative image of someone pulling on the reins of a horse to slow the horse and hold it back from running freely. The reins don't operate themselves.

 

[Moon Palace]

Thank you both. Indeed, I wanted confirmation that a passive voice was needed as I know of the transitive use of this verb, but was annoyed by this intransitive use, without yet being able to find this clearly confirmed in dictionaries.
And you're right, JamesM, I should have thought of horses first.