reign over
reign over (someone or something)
1. To control someone or something with absolute authority or power. The dictator has reigned over the country with an iron fist since his military coup in 1987. It's been 30 years since the monarchy reigned over us, and some parts of the population wish we could go back to that time.
2. To be a very influential or widespread force over someone or something. Terror has been reigning over our citizens ever since the war began.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
reign over someone or something
to rule over someone or something. The king reigned over his subjects for over thirty years. The queen reigned over the country for along time.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
reign over
v.
1. To have authority or control over someone or something; rule over someone or something: The same family has reigned over this island for ten generations.
2. To be prevalent or predominant in some place or situation: Chaos reigned over the city during the power outage.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.