power trip
9
7.8
- noun
- /ˈpaʊər trɪp/
- Offensive
:
abuso de poder
- After being promoted, she went on a power trip and started making unreasonable demands.
OK, the insane power trips of Handforth Parish Council.
- OK, the insane power trips of Handforth Parish Council.
- I feel like it's almost like maybe a little bit of a power trip or no, I don't know.
- It just it become feral terrible, like pure power trips, really sadistic stuff.
- It was clearly a power trip.
- And then I saw not only don't they, they kind of get off on the power trip that we are all their prisoners.
- Recognize that your ego and your power trip is the reason that you're trying to be perfect or spending too much time on stuff.
- They don't give a fuck because when they die and they had their little power trip when they were alive and not to control the world, they don't care about what's left, even for their own kids.
Examples
-
That's where the power trip comes in.
Blog text (25) -
Ever since Megan got into Notre Dame, she's on a frigging power trip again.
-
You are on a total power trip, you know that, man?
-
Get off your power trip.
-
I think that police these days are all caught up in a power trip.
Academic text (1998) -
It's the ultimate power trip over others.
Blog text (6) -
A bunch of racist cops on a power trip.
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They're all on such a power trip.
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It seems many administrators are on a power trip with their own agendas.
Academic text (2004) -
'Cause I've had a rough couple of days, and so the last thing I need is some waitress on a power trip wastin' my time.
Synonyms
5
7.4
An action you do to make yourself feel more important
Antonyms
How Controlling
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituent 'power' clearly signals authority and 'trip' can be understood as an experience or state, so a learner could infer this refers to an experience related to power. However, the evaluative nuance — taking pleasure in abusing or excessively exercising authority — is idiomatic and not fully predictable from the parts alone, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Power trip may come from the image of someone taking a short trip on their power — like a quick ride where they enjoy giving orders and feeling important, as if the power itself is a thrill. So, it means behaving to get pleasure from 'abusing authority' or showing 'control' over others.