: Legislators may bridle at what they see as judicial overreach or "encroachment" on their powers.
The phrase is a vivid idiom that describes a reaction of resentment, annoyance, or prideful offense toward something perceived as restrictive or insulting. Meaning and Origin bridle at
While the figurative meaning is most common in writing, the phrase still has strong literal roots in the equestrian world. In those contexts, it might describe a horse that is "hard to bridle" (difficult to put tack on) or one that shows "resistance" to the physical pressure of the bit and reins. Emphasizing Positive Over Negative, Message Over Messenger : Legislators may bridle at what they see
: Someone might simply bridle at "waste and stupidity" as a matter of personal value and temperament. Physical vs. Figurative In those contexts, it might describe a horse