ride herd on

R r

Definitions of ride herd on words

noun ride herd on a number of animals kept, feeding, or traveling together; drove; flock: a herd of cattle; a herd of sheep; a herd of zebras. 1
noun ride herd on Sometimes Disparaging. a large group of people: The star was mobbed by a herd of autograph seekers. 1
noun ride herd on any large quantity: a herd of bicycles. 1
noun ride herd on the herd, the common people; masses; rabble: He had no opinions of his own, but simply followed the herd. 1
verb without object ride herd on to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd. 1
idioms ride herd on ride herd on, to have charge or control of; maintain discipline over: He rode herd on 40 students in each class. 1

before 1000

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1000; Middle English; Old English heord; cognate with Gothic hairda, German Herde

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

act upon — anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.
administer — If someone administers something such as a country, the law, or a test, they take responsibility for organizing and supervising it.
babysit — If you babysit for someone or babysit their children, you look after their children while they are out.
be-held — simple past tense and past participle of behold.
call the tune — to be in control of the proceedings