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Microsoft hands some of the reins for its display ad business to AOL
This would be the equivalent to :
Microsoft gives some of the steering wheel for its display ad business to AOL
If you give someone else the steering wheel, you can't just give some of it.
The cliche the "journalist" wanted to use is mis-used because handing over the reins means "giving complete control", yet this is not the place to use that cliche, because apparently Microsoft is not giving complete control. Yes, I point these things out. 
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2942263/it-industry/microsoft-hands-some-of-the-reins-for-its-display-ad-business-to-aol.html[^]
Bad journalism prevails.
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What if you let someone take over the reigns of the carriage you are traveling in, but you just keep one hand loosely on them, just to exert that little bit of control should you need it.
Or to go back to the steering wheel, it's like when you let your kid drive on the dodgems, but you keep giving things a little steer in the right direction now and then.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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chriselst wrote: What if...
No. Sorry. 
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chriselst wrote: the reigns of the carriage
"Reins" was the correct word to use in this instance - unless you were imagining a monarch reigning over the carriage? 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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English is a stoopid language.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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Sit back, have a coffee/beer/smoke and relax, just reeelaaax...
veni bibi saltavi
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: Sit back, have a coffee and relax, just reeelaaax.
Hey, it worked.
No it didn't. Use of cliche is terrible. But the incorrect use of a cliche?! Not going to happen on my watch, mister!! 
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You could give them some of the reins - like the part you'd pull to steering left. That way they they'd have part of the reins, would have responsibility for going left, but not in control of the whole horse. Of course, two people on one horse is the real problem here, though I suppose the same would apply to carriages and sleighs. Look I'm no expert on animal drawing travel, right?
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My reply is actually a reply to anyone who changed the terrible cliche of "Handing over the reins".
This would be like taking the cliche:
"A rolling stone gathers no moss."
and changing it to
"Some rolling stones gather moss some times."
Or
"Never look a gift horse in the mouth."
to
"Rarely look a gift horse in the mouth area."
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No it wouldn't. 'Handing over the reins' is a simple metaphor. As such there is plenty of scope for moderating its meaning. The examples you give are both proverbs which therefore have no scope for moderation. Chalk and cheese!
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Hello, Member 9082365. I know you are trolling me, but I'll take the bait.
You are wrong. Wrong. Wrong-o!
(from http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hand+over+the+reins[^])
Handing over the reins means :
to allow someone else to control something you controlled previously, especially an organization or a country Company chiefs are often reluctant to hand over the reins of power to younger people. (often + to ) I built up the business, but I handed over the reins to my daughter last year.
See it denotes giving up control entirely.
However, Member 9082365, keep in mind I am entirely kidding around here and it doesn't really matter.
But, of course, language matters. And so, I am right.
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Of course you're right. You just haven't defined the parameters of 'right' correctly! 
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See my sig.
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It's all very well dragging the headline writer over the coals but I note you have no suggestions for what he should have said! I await your snappy alternative headline!
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Hello again, Member 9082365. It seems you have much invested in this. Methinks you may be Blair Hanley Frank (the original author of that piece at ComputerWorld).
Well, Blair, I think you should've just went the whole nine yards and lied like all the other headlines do. Just flat out say,
Microsoft Hands Over the Reins of Its Advertising to AOL
Then, as other headlines -- generally from scientific "papers" such as LiveScience.com -- if the person reads the article you can set the lie straight or not. It really doesn't matter, because you've already given them more than they'll ever read anyway.
Good luck with your future headlines, Blair.
Am I funny yet?
No one else thinks so either. Well, except me, of course.
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Sorry, but I am not he nor he me! A quick check through my previous posts will quickly prove that I reside in the county of Devon, England a mere 5287 miles from Mr Frank's home in San Francisco should you be in any doubt. I am merely an interested observer in English as she is used across the globe and inclined to doubt the word of those who say you can't say (or, more specifically, write) something when clearly someone just did in a way that may not please the pedants but conveys its meaning perfectly adequately.
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You can give some of the steering wheel without any problems. You just need a big hammer.
modified 20-Oct-19 21:02pm.
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Agreed.
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Time to get some kip. So looks like I'm up again tomorrow. I try and think of a more traditional one for it
So the solution is...
Tuesday.
Now work out where from
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I'm really hoping it's not badly pronounced "You stay", or an anagram of the Greek interest payment: "Stay Due" 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Looks like he has gone to bed. Any ideas at all?
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Tuesday - Choose Day, not choosing the dark side?
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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Only ones involving Seven Of Nine and a large bath full of strawberry jello.
Not sure they are really relevant to the CCC though...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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From Yodas Quote - anagram and Now being today which was Tuesday..
Today I'll have to think of something less weird
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