saddle

Related to saddle: saddle up, Back in the Saddle

a burr in (one's) saddle

A source or cause of intense and persistent annoyance or irritation. The traffic delays resulting from construction of the new inter-city tramline has been a burr in residents' saddles for months now. I'm not trying to be a burr in your saddle; I'm just ensuring we are following the letter of the law every step of the way.
See also: burr, saddle

a burr under (one's) saddle

A source or cause of intense and persistent annoyance or irritation. The traffic delays resulting from construction of the new inter-city tramline has been a burr under residents' saddles for months now. I'm not trying to be a burr under your saddle; I'm just ensuring we are following the letter of the law every step of the way.
See also: burr, saddle

a saddle on a sow

Something that looks completely ridiculous, abnormal, or out of place. Primarily heard in US. I hate wearing a dress—I always think it looks like a saddle on a sow when I have one on. Seeing someone drive a fancy sports car through this dusty little town of ours is like seeing someone put a saddle on a sow.
See also: on, saddle, sow

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.
See also: back, saddle

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.
See also: saddle

be riding high in the saddle

To be feeling self-assured due to a period of success or good fortune. Don's been riding high in the saddle ever since the board approved his proposal.
See also: high, riding, saddle

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.
See also: saddle, tall

have a burr under (one's) saddle

To experience intense and persistent annoyance or irritation. Everybody who lives on this side of town has a burr under their saddle, thanks to the traffic delays from construction of the new inter-city tramline. After experiencing so much turbulence on her flight, Liz really had a burr under her saddle when she arrived in town.
See also: burr, have, saddle

in the driver's seat

In control; in a dominant or influential position. With the new CEO in the driver's seat, the company has turned in its most profitable quarter in years.
See also: seat

in the saddle

1. In control; in a dominant or influential position. Likened to literally sitting in a saddle to ride a horse. With the new CEO in the saddle, the company has turned in its most profitable quarter in years.
2. Having resumed a previous activity, especially after illness or injury. I need to take today off to deal with this cold, but I should be back in the saddle on Monday.
See also: saddle

look like a saddle on a sow

To look completely ridiculous, abnormal, or out of place. Primarily heard in US. I hate wearing a dress—I always think it looks like a saddle on a sow when I have one on. That fancy sports car of yours looks like a saddle on a sow driving through this dusty little town of ours.
See also: like, look, on, saddle, sow

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.
See also: ride, saddle, tall

saddle (one) with (someone or something)

To force one to deal with someone or something that proves to be a great burden. Why do you always saddle yourself with so much school work? Take fewer classes and enjoy yourself a little! The boss has saddled me with a new intern from the local college. The economic crash has saddled millions of people with debts they'll likely never pay off.
See also: saddle

saddle tramp

1. slang 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. slang One who rides on horseback. Primarily heard in US. A: "I hear hoofbeats." B: "Yes, there's a saddle tramp approaching in the distance."
See also: saddle, tramp

saddle up

1. To fit a saddle onto an animal, especially a horse, in order to ride it. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "saddle" and "up." Norm, go saddle up the horses for our guests, please. We finished saddling the mules up and got ready for our descent into the Grand Canyon.
2. To sit in an animal's saddle in order to ride it. There's a storm coming—we'd better saddle up and head back to the ranch.
See also: saddle, up

saddled with (someone or something)

Forced to deal with some burdensome person, task, responsibility, etc. The managing editor's departure left me saddled with tons of extra work. Many students find themselves without jobs and saddled with debt upon graduating from college. You shouldn't have to be saddled with the emotional baggage of another person.
See also: saddle

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.
See also: saddle, sit, tall

tall in the saddle

Proud, stoic, 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.
See also: saddle, tall
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: burr, have, saddle

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.
See also: seat

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.
See also: like, look, on, saddle, 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?
See also: animal, saddle, up

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.
See also: saddle

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.
See also: saddle, up

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.
See also: saddle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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.
See also: seat

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]
See also: saddle, someone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be riding high in the saddle

If a person or team is riding high in the saddle, they are experiencing great success and are therefore feeling confident. The Australian cricket team are riding high in the saddle after their first Test victory.
See also: high, riding, saddle

in the saddle

If someone is in the saddle, they are in control of an organization. Now that he is firmly in the saddle, Vaghela will be looking to strengthen his position further. Their plan would sell 55 per cent of the new stock to the company's majority shareholders, putting them in the saddle.
See also: saddle

tall in the saddle

AMERICAN
If someone is tall in the saddle, they are confident and successful. The England manager will be riding tall in the saddle as he heads for Europe. The old cowboy of French politics is sitting tall in the saddle again.
See also: saddle, tall
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a burr under (or in) your saddle

a persistent source of irritation. North American informal
See also: burr, saddle

in the driver's (or driving) seat

in charge of a situation.
1998 Times The deal would propel the no-nonsense Lancastrian into the driving seat at the UK's biggest generator.
See also: seat

in the saddle

1 on horseback. 2 in a position of control or responsibility.
See also: saddle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

be in the ˈsaddle

be in a position of responsibility and control in an organization: It’s too early to say if she is a good manager. She hasn’t been in the saddle for very long.
In horse riding the saddle is the leather seat for the rider.
See also: saddle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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.
See also: saddle, up

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.
See also: saddle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

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.
See also: saddle, someone, something

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.
See also: saddle, tall
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

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.
See also: saddle
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

in the driver's seat

In control. The analogy here is obvious, but the actual expression did not become common until the nineteenth century. Lord Beaverbrook is quoted (New Statesman, 1963) as saying of David Lloyd George, “He did not care in which direction the car was travelling, so long as he remained in the driver’s seat.” See also in the saddle.
See also: seat

in the saddle

In a position of authority. This term dates from the seventeenth century, or perhaps even earlier. Machiavelli in his famous discourse on politics, The Prince (trans. 1675), wrote, “Such as by the favour of fortune . . . have got into the saddle.” It was misinterpreted by one writer, R. G. White (England Without and Within, 1881), who said, “The phrase ‘in the saddle,’ as an expression of readiness for work, is a peculiarly English phrase.” In fact, it has always meant a position of authority, not necessarily come by through honest toil.
See also: saddle
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a burr in (one's) saddle
  • a burr under (one's) saddle
  • a burr under your saddle
  • bur
  • burr
  • be a thorn in (one's) side
  • be a thorn in your flesh/side
  • a thorn in (one's) side
  • a thorn in someone's side
  • a thorn in your side
References in periodicals archive
Custom saddles cost between $4,000 and $5,000, but for people who have put thousands of dollars into their horse's care and comfort, ifs a wise investment.
Saddling up to success: Sault saddle-maker finds niche in horse market
The main idea of TPTD is to insert the saddle points and connect them to the corner vertices of a cube in order to generate tetrahedra in the same manner as the 2D case shown in Fig.
Topology preserving tetrahedral decomposition applied to trilinear interval volume tetrahedrization
The exploration season is expected to last into late October, with infill drilling and expansion of Saddle North continuing to be the focus, but with possible testing of targets peripheral to Saddle North if time permits.
GT Gold Confirms Continuity of Higher-Grade Cu-Au Porphyry Mineralization to Depth of 1.2 Kilometres at Saddle North
A word of caution: saddle hunting is not a buy it, then sameday-plug-and-play scenario.
SADDLING UP FOR SUCCESS: GO FARTHER, HUNT DEEPER, AND PACK LIGHTER WHILE ENJOYING ALL-DAY I COMFORT WITH TODAY'S NEWEST SADDLE-HUNTING GEAR TACTICS
Now--years after my first exposure to saddle hunting--here was my buddy (who I honestly didn't consider as "hardcore" as me) touting its virtues.
SADDLE UP & RIDE! A New Generation of Highly Mobile Bowhunters Is Embracing the Lightweight Comfort and Versatility of Tree Saddles
Keywords: Costal cartilage, Rhinoplasty, Saddle nose.
AUGMENTATION RHINOPLASTY: 9TH COSTAL CARTILAGE GRAFT FOR STAGE III SADDLE NOSE DEFORMITY
However, his crash before the Jerusalem time trial exacerbated his saddle and bike position problems.
Froome swaps saddles to find vital pain relief at mountain stages
Critique: Although Mystery at Saddle Creek is written especially for young adults ages 12-15, the masterfully crafted story of intrigue, deception, and crime will appeal to mystery connoisseurs of all ages and backgrounds.
Mystery at Saddle Creek Shelley Peterson
I know that many of us share a love of Saddle Rock, officially acquired in 2011 by the City of Wenatchee.
Hawkins advocates for Saddle Rock trail
Hanson announced that it has negotiated a lease for a 3,200-square-foot flex office building at 186 Saddle River Road in Saddle Brook, NJ.
NAI James E. Hanson
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP, through its subsidiaries Tallgrass Terminals LLC and Tallgrass Pony Express Pipeline LLC, have agreed with Saddle Butte Pipeline to develop the Tallgrass Grasslands Terminal.
Tallgrass Energy, Saddle Butte pipeline propose terminal
A recent local feature detector in image processing field known as Saddle detects local structures that have concave and convex profiles of a 3D intensity surface within a defined neighborhood [28].
Feature-Based Retinal Image Registration Using D-Saddle Feature
M2 EQUITYBITES-December 8, 2016-TransCanada to commence USD655m Saddle West Natural Gas Project
TransCanada to commence USD655m Saddle West Natural Gas Project
I was visiting a site of a former palace and came across an old gun that was mounted to a camel saddle. It looked as if they would maybe shoot it while attached to the camel or take the camel's saddle off then shoot?
Indian camel gun
13 July 2016 - US-based digital point of care media company Health Media Network has acquired the rights to US-based development stage company PetCARE Television Network, LLC, from US-based veterinary waiting room network Saddle Ranch Media, Inc.
Health Media Network Acquires Rights to PetCARE TV