pull in one's horns
pull in (one's) horns
To begin to act more cautiously. I just got this quarter's budget report, and we definitely need to pull in our horns and spend less going forward.
See also: horn, pull
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
pull in one's horns
Also, draw in one's horns.
1. Retreat, back down, restrain oneself, as in The town manager wanted higher taxes but public reaction made him draw in his horns. This expression alludes to the snail's habit of drawing in the soft projecting parts of its body when it is threatened. The idea was first expressed in the 15th century as shrink one's horns, and the idiom with draw developed about the same time. The idiom with pull did not appear until a century later.
2. Reduce expenses, as in That drop in profits will force the company to pull in its horns. [Late 1800s]
See also: horn, pull
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- pull in (one's) horns
- pull in your horns
- draw in (one's) horns
- draw in horns and pull in horns
- draw in your horns
- draw/pull in your horns
- haul in (one's) horns
- wear the horns
- no doubt about it
- show (one's) horns