to boss

Examples

• All

• My grandmother appeared, all dressed up, and started bossing everybody around.

  Fiction book (1997)

• And it's not like Doc to boss you around.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Not while there was a high school graduate he could boss around.

  Fiction book (1994)

• You know, she bosses people around sometimes.

  The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

• I can tell you two are doing it by the way she bosses you around.

  Fiction book (1991)

• And some people say, so why are you bossing everybody around?

• You love bossing us around.

  Trolls Band Together (2023)

• I'm getting tired of being bossed around by you.

  Five Came Back (1939)

• Yesterday, his dad made some comment, and Mac threw down his screwdriver and yelled, "Quit bossing me around!"

  Fiction book (1999)

• You can't just boss everyone around without considering their feelings.

Synonyms

L

to lead

vsto boss

∞ 1.0

To guide a group or be in charge

directs people through command and control rather than by guiding example

M

to manage

vsto boss

765 2.7

To be in charge of a group or a business

orders people in a commanding way rather than supervising in an organised way

C

to command

vsto boss

312 2.7

To give orders and control people or things

gives orders in a commanding personal manner rather than by formal power

H

to head

vsto boss

289 2.9

To be in charge of a group or organization

gives orders actively rather than merely holding the top position

D

to dictate

vsto boss

215 5.0

To give orders that control what other people do

gives orders in a commanding way but is less about formal rule

B

to boss around

vsto boss

• Informal

39 4.5

Tell people what to do in a rude way when you have no right

gives orders in a commanding way without the rude or illegitimate tone

L

to lord over

vsto boss

• Informal

15 7.5

To treat other people as if you are better than them

issues commands in a direct manner rather than showing contemptuous superiority

H

to hold the reins

vsto boss

• Informal

3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

controls others by ordering rather than by steady organisational management

Antonyms

F

to follow

∞ 1.0

To act according to rules, advice, or beliefs

O

to obey

316 1.0

Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule

Idioms

Y

you're the boss

• Informal

46 6.5

Tell someone they can make the final decision

S

to show who's boss

• Informal

15 7.7

To make others see you are in charge

Phrasal Verbs

B

to boss around

• Informal

39 4.5

Tell people what to do in a rude way when you have no right

Compounds

P

party boss

• Literature

6 6.5

A powerful political leader who controls votes and chooses party jobs behind the scenes

P

political boss

2 6.0

A powerful party leader who controls votes and gives government jobs

F

final boss

• Jargon

2 6.0

The last and hardest enemy in a video game you must beat to finish the story

T

trail boss

• Jargon

1 8.3

A person who leads and cares for a herd of cattle on a long drive

S

straw boss

• Jargon

1 8.7

A worker who leads other workers but has little power

U

ultimate boss

• Jargon

1 7.0

The final, most difficult enemy you must beat in a game

F

final boss

• Informal

6.5

A last very difficult challenge someone must get past in a project or task

How Controlling

to dominate

189 3.7

to command

312 2.7

to order

∞ 1.3

to boss

45 3.1

to instruct

204 2.8

to tell

∞ 1.0

to suggest

∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

Etymology