Some people make the rules. Others follow them. When someone is in charge, we often use special phrases to describe what they do or how they act. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms help make talking more fun and interesting. They can tell us about power, control, and how people lead.
In this article, you will learn 28 idioms about authority. Each one will have its meaning and a simple sentence to show how it is used. You will also learn where these phrases came from and what other ways people might say the same thing. These idioms are useful when talking about school, work, or leaders in everyday life. Let’s begin!
Idioms About Authority
1. Call the shots
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions
Example Sentence:
• In our group project, Sarah called the shots.
• The coach calls the shots during the game.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, take control
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from military shooting practice where a leader decided when to fire.
Usage: Used when someone has power to make choices.
2. Lay down the law
Meaning: To make rules in a strict way
Example Sentence:
• Mom laid down the law about bedtime.
• The teacher laid down the law on homework rules.
Other ways to say: Set rules, be firm
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to someone acting like a judge or lawmaker.
Usage: Used when someone is being strict about rules.
3. Top dog
Meaning: The most powerful or important person
Example Sentence:
• He became the top dog at his company.
• On the playground, the top dog picks the game.
Other ways to say: Leader, boss
Fun Fact/Origin: Came from dog fights where the winner was called the top dog.
Usage: Used to describe someone in the highest position.
4. Rule the roost
Meaning: To be in charge of a group, usually at home
Example Sentence:
• Dad rules the roost in our house.
• The cat rules the roost when it comes to the couch.
Other ways to say: Be the boss, take control
Fun Fact/Origin: Roost means where chickens sleep; the top chicken leads the group.
Usage: Used in homes or groups to show who’s in charge.
5. Crack the whip
Meaning: To make people work hard or behave
Example Sentence:
• The coach cracked the whip during practice.
• The manager cracked the whip to meet the deadline.
Other ways to say: Be strict, push hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horse driving, where a whip made animals go faster.
Usage: Used when someone is making others work harder.
6. Hold the reins
Meaning: To have control or power over something
Example Sentence:
• She held the reins of the school club.
• The mayor holds the reins of the city.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, guide
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from horseback riding, where reins are used to steer.
Usage: Used when someone leads or manages a group.
7. The powers that be
Meaning: The people in charge or with authority
Example Sentence:
• The powers that be decided to cancel the game.
• The powers that be made a new rule for the park.
Other ways to say: Leaders, people in power
Fun Fact/Origin: From the Bible, meaning current rulers.
Usage: Used when talking about people who control things.
8. On a power trip
Meaning: Acting bossy or using power in a bad way
Example Sentence:
• The hall monitor was on a power trip.
• He was on a power trip and bossed everyone around.
Other ways to say: Bossy, controlling
Fun Fact/Origin: Became popular in the 1960s to describe misused power.
Usage: Used when someone enjoys controlling others too much.
9. Bend to someone’s will
Meaning: To give in to what someone else wants
Example Sentence:
• The team bent to the coach’s will.
• He bent to his big brother’s will during the game.
Other ways to say: Give in, follow orders
Fun Fact/Origin: “Will” means desire; to bend to it means to obey.
Usage: Used when someone follows another person’s orders.
10. Put your foot down
Meaning: To say “no” firmly
Example Sentence:
• Dad put his foot down about screen time.
• The teacher put her foot down on late homework.
Other ways to say: Be firm, say no
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of stomping to show seriousness.
Usage: Used when someone makes a strong rule or decision.
11. Rule with an iron fist
Meaning: To lead in a very strict and harsh way
Example Sentence:
• The coach ruled the team with an iron fist.
• The camp leader ruled with an iron fist during the hike.
Other ways to say: Be very strict, control tightly
Fun Fact/Origin: Iron is strong, so this phrase means strong and harsh leadership.
Usage: Used when someone is very tough in their leadership.
12. Have the upper hand
Meaning: To have the advantage or be in control
Example Sentence:
• She had the upper hand in the debate.
• He had the upper hand in the board game.
Other ways to say: Be ahead, be stronger
Fun Fact/Origin: From old games where a higher hand position gave control.
Usage: Used when someone is winning or leading.
13. Pull rank
Meaning: To use your position to get what you want
Example Sentence:
• He pulled rank to get the last piece of cake.
• The boss pulled rank to make everyone stay late.
Other ways to say: Use power, act bossy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the military, where higher ranks give more power.
Usage: Used when someone uses their position for personal gain.
14. Big cheese
Meaning: A person with a lot of power or importance
Example Sentence:
• He acts like he’s the big cheese in class.
• The big cheese arrived late to the meeting.
Other ways to say: VIP, head honcho
Fun Fact/Origin: From the early 1900s, “cheese” meant something great.
Usage: Used for important or powerful people.
15. Wear the pants
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions in a relationship or home
Example Sentence:
• Mom wears the pants in our house.
• She wears the pants in their friendship.
Other ways to say: Be the boss, take charge
Fun Fact/Origin: In the past, men wore pants, so the phrase meant power at home.
Usage: Used when one person clearly leads.
16. Take the helm
Meaning: To take control or leadership
Example Sentence:
• She took the helm of the class project.
• He took the helm after the coach left.
Other ways to say: Take over, lead
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailing, where the helm is used to steer the ship.
Usage: Used when someone steps into a leadership role.
17. Call the shots
Meaning: To make decisions or be in control
Example Sentence:
• The captain called the shots during the game.
• Grandma calls the shots during family dinners.
Other ways to say: Be the leader, decide
Fun Fact/Origin: From shooting games where the leader picked when to shoot.
Usage: Used for decision-making authority.
18. Take command
Meaning: To take control of a situation
Example Sentence:
• He took command of the classroom during the drill.
• She took command when the leader got sick.
Other ways to say: Lead, be in charge
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the military, where a commander takes charge.
Usage: Used when someone takes control, often suddenly.
19. Throw your weight around
Meaning: To use your power to get what you want
Example Sentence:
• He throws his weight around to get out of chores.
• She threw her weight around at the meeting.
Other ways to say: Be bossy, show off power
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests using one’s position or influence like physical weight.
Usage: Used when someone uses their authority in a pushy way.
20. Be in the driver’s seat
Meaning: To be in control of a situation
Example Sentence:
• Now that she’s team captain, she’s in the driver’s seat.
• He felt like he was in the driver’s seat during the game.
Other ways to say: Be in charge, control things
Fun Fact/Origin: The driver steers the car, just like a leader guides a group.
Usage: Used when someone is guiding or deciding.
21. Run the show
Meaning: To be the person in charge of everything
Example Sentence:
• She ran the show during the school play.
• He likes to run the show at group meetings.
Other ways to say: Be in control, manage things
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the theater where the director runs the play.
Usage: Used when someone leads or manages an activity.
22. Pull the strings
Meaning: To secretly control someone or something
Example Sentence:
• He’s quiet, but he pulls the strings behind the scenes.
• The teacher pulls the strings for the school events.
Other ways to say: Be the real boss, control things quietly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from puppetry, where strings are used to control puppets.
Usage: Used when someone has hidden power.
23. Boss around
Meaning: To tell people what to do in a rude way
Example Sentence:
• He bosses his little brother around all day.
• Don’t boss your friends around at recess.
Other ways to say: Order, command
Fun Fact/Origin: “Boss” became a noun in the 1600s and later used as a verb.
Usage: Used when someone tells others what to do too much.
24. Have someone under your thumb
Meaning: To have control over someone
Example Sentence:
• She has her little brother under her thumb.
• He kept his team under his thumb the whole project.
Other ways to say: Control, dominate
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from pressing something down with a thumb to hold it.
Usage: Used when someone has strong control over another person.
25. Put in charge
Meaning: To give someone the job of being the leader
Example Sentence:
• The teacher put Jake in charge of the science table.
• I was put in charge while the coach stepped out.
Other ways to say: Assign, appoint
Fun Fact/Origin: The word “charge” used to mean care or control.
Usage: Used when someone is given a leadership role.
26. Take matters into your own hands
Meaning: To act on your own instead of waiting
Example Sentence:
• He took matters into his own hands and cleaned the yard.
• She took matters into her own hands when no one helped.
Other ways to say: Do it yourself, take action
Fun Fact/Origin: It means using your hands instead of relying on others.
Usage: Used when someone decides to handle a situation without help.
27. Hold all the cards
Meaning: To have all the power or control
Example Sentence:
• She held all the cards in the negotiation.
• When it’s your party, you hold all the cards.
Other ways to say: Be in control, have the advantage
Fun Fact/Origin: From card games where the best cards give power.
Usage: Used when someone has the upper hand.
28. Be at someone’s mercy
Meaning: To have no power and depend on someone else
Example Sentence:
• The puppy was at the mercy of the new owner.
• I was at the teacher’s mercy after losing my homework.
Other ways to say: Be helpless, be under control
Fun Fact/Origin: “Mercy” means kindness; if someone has it, you rely on their choice.
Usage: Used when someone has no control and must rely on another person.
Quiz: Idioms About Authority
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Only one answer is correct.
Question Key
1. What does “call the shots” mean?
A) To ignore the rules
B) To make decisions
C) To copy someone else
2. If someone “lays down the law,” what are they doing?
A) Making rules in a strict way
B) Lying about something
C) Writing a new law
3. What does it mean to “rule with an iron fist”?
A) To lead with kindness
B) To be very strict and harsh
C) To wear metal gloves
4. If someone is “pulling the strings,” what are they doing?
A) Playing with toys
B) Secretly controlling things
C) Fixing their clothes
5. What does “wear the pants” mean?
A) To dress well
B) To be the decision-maker
C) To follow the leader
6. If someone is “on a power trip,” how are they acting?
A) Helpful and nice
B) Calm and quiet
C) Bossy and full of control
7. What does “have someone under your thumb” mean?
A) To care for someone
B) To control someone
C) To shake hands
8. If you are “in the driver’s seat,” what does that mean?
A) You are riding in the back
B) You are asleep
C) You are in control
9. What does “throw your weight around” mean?
A) To exercise
B) To use your power in a pushy way
C) To gain weight
10. If someone is “put in charge,” what does it mean?
A) They must pay a fee
B) They get to lead or be responsible
C) They are being blamed
Answer Key
- B – To make decisions
- A – Making rules in a strict way
- B – To be very strict and harsh
- B – Secretly controlling things
- B – To be the decision-maker
- C – Bossy and full of control
- B – To control someone
- C – You are in control
- B – To use your power in a pushy way
- B – They get to lead or be responsible
Wrapping Up
Idioms about authority help us talk about power and control in simple ways. They can show who leads, who follows, and how people act when they have power. These phrases make speaking more fun and easy to understand. Try using them when you talk about leaders at home, school, or in stories.
