fbpx
Skip to content

The Most Helpful Idioms With Meaning and Examples. Topic – Authority 

English idioms are the spice of language, offering a unique flavor to everyday communication. These common idioms serve as gems, each carrying a distinctive meaning beyond their literal interpretation. Let’s explore the fascinating world of idioms with an idiom example. Consider the phrase “burning the midnight oil,” depicting intense effort or working late into the night. In this idiom sample, the image of a lamp burning late symbolizes diligence and commitment. Understanding idioms with meaning is like deciphering a secret code, unlocking a deeper layer of expression. So, whether you’re “walking on eggshells” or “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” incorporating these idiomatic expressions into your language repertoire adds flair and nuance, transforming ordinary conversations into rich tapestries of communication.

FOR MORE SUCH READING TESTS DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.
big fish in a small pond This term refers to an important or highly-ranked person in a small group or organisation. He could get a job with a big company but he enjoys being a big fish in a small pond.
bring to heel If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, you bring them to heel. The boy had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel.
bulldoze (someone) into doing something A person who is bulldozed into doing something is forced to do it, especially by being bullied or intimidated. The immigrants we bulldozed into accepting the work.
call the shots / call the tune The person who calls the shots  or the tune is the one who makes all the important decisions and is in control of the situation He shows a lot of authority but in fact it’s his wife who calls the shots.
carry weight If a person or organisation carries weight, they are influential or important. I’m glad she’s on our side – her opinion carries a lot of weight.
too many chiefs, not enough Indians This expression refers to a situation where there are too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work. The business wasn’t successful. There were too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
corridors of power This term refers to the higher levels of government or administration where important decisions are made. The matter is the subject of much discussion in the corridors of power at the present time.
crack the whip If you crack the whip, you use your authority to make someone obey you or work more efficiently, usually by threatening them. Every so often I’ll crack the whip to make sure we meet the deadline.
dance to someone’s tune If you dance to someone’s tune, you do whatever that person tells you to do. He is the company’s major shareholder so the management has to dance to his tune.
draw a line in the sand If you draw a line in the sand, you establish a limit beyond which a certain situation or activity will not be accepted. That’s it! We’re going to draw a line in the sand and make this our final proposal.
force someone’s hand If you force someone’s hand, you make them do something unwillingly or sooner than planned. The interviewer forced Brad’s hand and made him reveal his relocation plans.
friends in high places If you know important or influential people in business or government, you have friends in high places. He wouldn’t have succeeded without help from friends in high places.
get/have by the short hairs (or: by the short and curlies) If  you get or have someone by the short hairs, you put them in a difficult situation from which they cannot escape, so you have complete control over them. They are in no position to refuse; we’ve got them by the short hairs!
with a heavy hand Dealing with or treating people with a heavy hand means acting with discipline and severity, with little or no sensitivity. He ran the juvenile delinquent centre with a heavy hand.
hold the reins The person who holds the reins is someone who is in complete control of a company, firm or organisation. He’s been holding the reins for over 20 years and intends to continue for as long as possible.
(be) in the driving seat If a person is in charge or in control of a situation, or in a position in which they are able to control what happens, it is said that they are in the driving seat. With a new president in the driving seat, the company hopes to improve relations with the shareholders.
iron fist/hand in a velvet glove This expression is used to describe someone who, behind an appearance of gentleness, is inflexible and determined. To impose the necessary reforms, the leader used persuasion followed by force – an iron fist in a velvet glove.
knock (some) sense into When you knock sense into somebody, you use strong words or methods in order to get that person to stop behaving stupidly. When Jason announced that he was going to drop out of college, his uncle managed to knock some sense into him.
lay down the law Someone who lays down the law tells people very forcefully and firmly what to do. The volunteers helped in a disorganised way.They needed someone to lay down the law.
might is right This saying expresses the belief that being the most powerful person or country gives you the right to do whatever you want. There are many leaders today who believe that might is right.
my way or the highway If you say to someone ‘it’s my way or the highway’, you are telling them that either they accept to do as you say or they leave the project. You don’t have much choice when someone says: ‘it’s my way or the highway.’!
paper tiger This term refers to a person, organisation or country that is less powerful or threatening than they appear to be. He threatens to take strong action but he’s just another paper tiger.
pester power This term refers to the power children exert over their parents by continually nagging or pestering them until they accept to buy advertised toys or fashionable products. Pester power leads busy parents to buy more and more for their children.
power behind the throne Someone with no apparent authority who has great influence over the person officially in charge is said to be the power behind the throne. It’s essential to be on good terms with his wife. Apparently she’s the power behind the throne.
pull strings If someone pulls strings, they use influential friends in order to obtain an advantage. David found a job easily – his father just pulled a few strings!
put someone in their place If someone causes offence or irritation by speaking or behaving in an inappropriate manner, you put them in their place by letting them know that they are not as important as they seem to believe. The new trainee is not in a position to criticise our methods.  He needs to be put in his place!
put the squeeze on If you put the squeeze on someone, you put pressure on them to force them to do something. Bob was reluctant to work with Ben until the boss put the squeeze on him.
read the riot act If you declare with force and authority that something must stop, and announce the consequences if it happens again, you read the riot act. Dad read us the riot act when we messed up his tool-shed.
rule the roost If you rule the roost, you are the most important and powerful person in a group or community. Officially David runs the company, but it’s his father who rules the roost
seal of approval If a project or contact receives a seal of approval, it receives formal support or approval from higher authorities. We can’t conclude the deal without the director’s seal of approval.
speak softly and carry a big stick If you speak softly and carry a big stick, you express your views quietly, in a non-aggressive manner, but you make it clear that you are in a position to use force if necessary. As a leader he recommends the ‘speak softly and carry a big stick’ method.
tail wagging the dog This expression refers to a situation where there is a reversal of roles, with the small or minor element having a controlling influence on the most important element. If you let your children decide on everything, it will be a case of the tail wagging the dog!
take it upon yourself If you take it upon yourself  to do something, you do it without asking for permission or agreement. My colleague took it upon herself to redecorate the office during my absence.
top dog To say that a person, group or country is top dog means that they are better or more powerful than others. She’s top dog in cosmetics today.
under your thumb If someone is under your thumb, they are completely under your control or influence. Nobody ever protests. He has the whole group under his thumb.
gain/get the upper hand If a person or organisation gains or gets the upper hand, especially in a fight or competition, they take control over something. We increased our market share and gained the upper hand over our competitors.
wear the trousers The partner in a couple who wears the trousers is the one who makes all the important decisions. The salesman hesitated before the couple. It was difficult to see who wore the trousers
FOR MORE SUCH READING TESTS DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

  1. What are idioms? Idioms are expressions or phrases that hold a figurative meaning beyond their literal interpretation. They add color and depth to language.

  2. Why are idioms important in English? Idioms help convey complex ideas succinctly and vividly, enhancing communication and offering cultural insights.

  3. Can you provide some examples of idioms? Certainly! Examples include “raining cats and dogs” (heavy rain), “kick the bucket” (pass away), and “bite the bullet” (face a difficult situation).

  4. How do I understand the meaning of idioms? Understanding idioms often requires context and cultural familiarity. Exploring their origins and usage in sentences helps grasp their meanings.

  5. Are all idioms universal or do they vary by region? Idioms can vary across regions and cultures. While some idioms are universal, many are culturally specific.

  6. Are there common idioms used in everyday conversation? Yes, several idioms, like “break a leg” (good luck) or “piece of cake” (easy task), are frequently used in daily conversations.

  7. Do idioms have fixed meanings? Generally, yes. However, some idioms might have slight variations in meaning or usage based on context or region.

  8. How can I incorporate idioms into my writing or speech? Using idioms contextually and accurately can add richness to your language. Start by understanding their meanings and then applying them naturally.

  9. Are idioms only found in English? No, idioms exist in many languages. Each language has its own set of colorful expressions and phrases.

  10. Where can I learn more idioms and their meanings? Online resources, books on idioms, and even language learning platforms offer extensive lists of idioms with explanations of their meanings and origins.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *