pull in one's horns

Meaning: (idiomatic)To become lessimpassioned,aggressive, orargumentative; to exerciserestraint; toyieldorcapitulate.1848,Anthony Trollope, chapter 7, inThe Kellys and the O'Kellys:Barry . . . stood, during this tirade, half stupefied with rage, and half frightened, at the open attack made on him. . . . However, he couldn'tpull in his hornsnow, and he was obliged, in self-defence, to brazen it out.1904,Jack London, chapter9, inThe Sea-Wolf(Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.:Grosset & Dunlap,→OCLC:"I see Cooky's finish," I heard Smoke say to Horner. "You bet," was the reply. "Hump runs the galley from now on, and Cookypulls in his horns."1912,P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 14, inThe Adventures of Sally:Anyone else would havepulled in his hornsand gone slow for a spell, but he's one of those fellows whose horse is always going to win the next race.1950October 30, “The Press: Time to Pause”, inTime:Editor & Publisher Edwin Palmer Hoyt decided topull in his horns. Said Hoyt: "We've decided it is time to pause, recapitulate and prepare to recommence."2003April 6, Susan Warner, “Fighting Off the Chains”, inNew York Times, retrieved10 September 2012:"Smaller hardware stores in the area were scared," he said. "They stopped making investments. Theypulled in their horns."

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