One way to hold this word: the straps over a horse's head, with a metal bit in its mouth and two reins running back to your hands. The point of the picture is not tying up — the horse can still walk, turn, and run. The point is that you are connected to it, so a small pull travels straight through and the animal slows, turns, or waits. Hold that line in your mind and most of the other uses of bridle come into view.
From Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel, from Proto-West Germanic *brigdil and Proto-Germanic *brigdilaz, meaning strap or rein; the source analyses it as braid plus -le, so the underlying idea is a plaited strap.
來自中古英文 bridel、古英文 brīdel，再往前是原始日耳曼語 *brigdilaz，意思是「帶子、韁」。來源把它分析成 braid（編）加上字尾 -le，也就是「編起來的帶子」。這條線索跟今天的核心畫面剛好對得上：它到現在都還是一組繞在馬頭上的皮帶。
Wiktionary, English entry 'bridle' (packet source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:858274251)
From the picture
拉住，不讓它衝出去
把韁繩的功能整個搬到抽象的東西上：想往前衝的不再是馬，而是脾氣、話、花費或權力，而你手上還握著那條線。
verb · C2
To hold something back and keep it under control, the way a bridle controls a horse. It is used about feelings and about speech, as in bridle your tongue or bridle your anger.
約束、克制（住）
頭一抬的那一下
一種想法是：馬被韁繩一拉，會把頭猛地抬起來抗拒；人被一句話踩到時，做的其實是同一個動作。
verb · C1
To show straight away that something has offended you, often by lifting your head and going stiff. You bridle at a word, a question, or a suggestion that feels insulting.
（因被冒犯）當場動怒
noun · B2
The set of leather straps that goes over a horse's head. It holds the metal bit in the horse's mouth and carries the reins, so the rider can steer the horse and slow it down.
馬勒（馬頭套）
verb · C1
To put a bridle on a horse, so that the horse can be led or ridden.
給（馬）套上馬勒
noun · C2
A short line or cable fixed to two or more points on something, so that a pull is shared between those points instead of falling on one. Kites, lifted loads, and moored boats are held this way.
（繩具）分力索、繫纜組