to call the shots
77
4.2
- idiom
- Informal
- During the meeting, it was clear that John was the one calling the shots.
- boss calling the shots
- get to call the shots
- let me call the shots
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Watch on YouTubeBut you can only call the shots if you're there, right?
- But you can only call the shots if you're there, right?
- This is their network, but Roger was calling the shots.
- He's presiding and he knows that he calls the shots.
- Both of them want to be the guy calling the shots.
- Whereas these days, the last decade, who's calling the shots?
- Anyway, my theory is that none of these guys are calling the shots.
- So I think that, you know, you're talking about a tiny group of minorities who are calling the shots for what the American public could read.
- Linus and Yvonne, the married couple, which could go either of two ways or Anthony and Dennis with Anthony calling the shots, of course.
- So being a practical guy, I think I can do this, but I'm the one who's going to have to call the shots because I have gainful employment.
- That's why me and my husband Bob work well together, because he allows me to call the shots.
- The answer to I sign the checks, I call the shots, everything.
Examples
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You're obviously not the one calling the shots in this case.
-
Kathe is calling the shots.
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You are calling the shots for the first however long, right?
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We are calling the shots now!
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And I call the shots.
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We are calling the shots.
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We call the shots around here.
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You call the shots... but I can do my job much better if you just tell me-- what is this new strategy?
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You still think you can call the shots, eh?
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Kayani is also clear about his determination to call the shots in Kabul.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
101
3.5
Start to control a group or situation and lead others
69
3.2
To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions
58
4.1
To be in charge of an activity or group
25
4.7
To drive a car or have control of a situation
6
7.9
To be the person who has the most control in a couple or family
4
6.3
To be in control of a group and make important decisions
3
4.9
To be in control of a group or business
2
7.0
To have control and make the main decisions
1
5.7
To accept responsibility for and control someone or something
Antonyms
How Powerful
15
4.0
- Informal
58
4.1
- Informal
77
4.2
156
3.4
57
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal senses of 'call' (to summon or announce) and 'shot' (an attempt or action) allow a plausible compositional reading — someone who 'calls the shots' can be seen as deciding which actions or opportunities will happen. However, this requires a metaphorical/sports-based mapping from 'shots' to decisions and is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Call the shots may come from old pool games where a player would call which ball to hit and where to put it with a shot. So the person who 'called the shots' controlled the game, which is why the phrase now means 'to be in control or make the important decisions'.