in the saddle

noun

1. a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.
2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc.
3. a part of a harness laid across the back of an animal and girded under the belly, to which the terrets and checkhook are attached.
4. something resembling a saddle in shape, position, or function.
5. the part of the back of an animal where a saddle is placed.
6. 1. (of mutton, venison, lamb, etc.) a cut comprising both loins.
   2. this cut, trimmed and prepared for roasting.
7. (of poultry) the posterior part of the back.
8. a ridge connecting two higher elevations.
9. the covering of a roof ridge.
10. bolster(def 7).
11. a raised piece of flooring between the jambs of a doorway.
12. an inverted bracket bearing on the axle of a railroad car wheel as a support for the car body.
13. Ordnance. the support for the trunnion on some gun carriages.
14. Machinery. a sliding part for spanning a space or other parts to support something else, as the cross slide and toolholder of a lathe.
15. a strip of leather, often of a contrasting color, sewn on the vamp or instep of a shoe and extending to each side of the shank.
16. saddle shoe.
17. Ceramics. a bar of refractory clay, triangular in section, for supporting one side of an object being fired.
18. (in a suspension bridge) a member at the top of a tower for supporting a cable.

verb (used with object), sad·dled, sad·dling.

19. to put a saddle on: to saddle a horse.
20. to load or charge, as with a burden: He has saddled himself with a houseful of impecunious relatives.
21. to impose as a burden or responsibility.

verb (used without object), sad·dled, sad·dling.

22. to put a saddle on a horse (often followed by up).
23. to mount into the saddle (often followed by up).

Idioms

24. in the saddle,
    1. in a position to direct or command; in control.
    2. at work; on the job.

noun

1. a seat for a rider, usually made of leather, placed on a horse’s back and secured with a girth under the belly
2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc, made of leather or steel
3. a back pad forming part of the harness of a packhorse
4. anything that resembles a saddle in shape, position, or function
5. a cut of meat, esp mutton, consisting of part of the backbone and both loins
6. the part of a horse or similar animal on which a saddle is placed
7. the part of the back of a domestic chicken that is nearest to the tail
8. civil engineering a block on top of one of the towers of a suspension bridge that acts as a bearing surface over which the cables or chains pass
9. engineering the carriage that slides on the bed of a lathe and supports the slide rest, tool post, or turret
10. the nontechnical name for clitellum
11. another name for col (def. 1)
12. a raised piece of wood or metal for covering a doorsill
13. in the saddle in a position of control

verb

14. (sometimes foll by up) to put a saddle on (a horse)
15. (intr) to mount into the saddle
16. (tr) to burden; chargeI didn’t ask to be saddled with this job

n.

Old English sadol “seat for a rider,” from Proto-Germanic *sathulaz (cf. Old Norse söðull, Old Frisian sadel, Dutch zadel, zaal, German Sattel “saddle”), from PIE *sed- (1) “to sit” (cf. Latin sedere “to sit,” Old Church Slavonic sedlo “saddle;” see sedentary). Figurative phrase in the saddle “in an active position of management” is attested from 1650s. Saddle stitch (n.) was originally in bookbinding (1887).

v.

Old English sadolian “to put a riding saddle on;” see saddle (n.). The meaning “to load with a burden” is first recorded 1690s. Related: Saddled; saddling.

n.

1. A structure shaped like a saddle.

see in the driver’s seat.

In addition to the idiom beginning with saddle

• saddle someone with

also see:

• in the driver’s seat (saddle)