Men hold the reins, but the women tell them which way to drive.
Meaning: Behind visible authority, women's influence subtly directs outcomes through persuasion rather than command.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Communication
- A story never loses by re-telling. — Repeated tellings enhance a story's impact through familiar enjoyment and accumulated det…
- Love rules his kingdom without a sword. — Affection maintains order and obedience more effectively than force or coercion ever coul…
- Learn to say before you sing. — Master the fundamentals of speech and communication before attempting public performance…
- Saying and doing are two things. — Words cost nothing, but actions require commitment, effort, and genuine intention to fulf…
- If a man says little he thinks the more. — Silence often reflects deeper contemplation, while excessive speech betrays shallow reaso…
- He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. — Inheriting wealth from birth grants unearned advantages that others must struggle to achi…
From our idioms
- come off it! — A response to a statement that cannot be believed (sentence 1) or a behavior that must be…
- come out of one's shell — To stop being shy.
- come out smelling like a rose — To avoid blame that one deserves; to seem innocent.