Sometimes, people use special phrases to talk about power. These phrases are called idioms. They don’t mean exactly what the words say, but people understand what they mean from how they’re used. For example, when someone says a person “holds all the cards,” they’re not really talking about playing a game. They mean that person has control.
Idioms about power can help us talk about strength, leadership, and who is in charge. You might hear them in school, on TV, or when adults talk about rules and decisions. These phrases make talking more fun and help ideas sound stronger. In this article, we will learn some common idioms about power, what they mean, and how to use them. Let’s take a closer look.
Idioms for Power
1. Hold all the cards
Meaning: To be in control
Give an Instance: The teacher held all the cards when deciding the class rules. / Mom holds all the cards about bedtime.
Substitute Meaning: In charge / Has the power
2. Call the shots
Meaning: To be the one who makes decisions
Give an Instance: Coach calls the shots on who plays. / At home, Dad calls the shots about dinner.
Substitute Meaning: Makes the rules / Decides what happens
3. Rule the roost
Meaning: To be the boss in a group
Give an Instance: My big sister rules the roost when our parents are out. / At lunch, Josh rules the roost with his loud jokes.
Substitute Meaning: Leads the group / Acts like the boss
4. Pull the strings
Meaning: To secretly control something
Give an Instance: She pulled the strings to get her team more time. / I think he pulls the strings behind the scenes.
Substitute Meaning: Controls quietly / Has secret power
5. In the driver’s seat
Meaning: In control of the situation
Give an Instance: She was in the driver’s seat during the group project. / The mayor is in the driver’s seat in the town.
Substitute Meaning: In charge / Leading
6. Lay down the law
Meaning: To set rules in a strong way
Give an Instance: Mom laid down the law about no screen time after 8. / The coach laid down the law at practice.
Substitute Meaning: Made the rules / Was firm
7. Throw your weight around
Meaning: Use your power in a bossy way
Give an Instance: He throws his weight around to get his way. / She threw her weight around during the game.
Substitute Meaning: Acts bossy / Uses power
8. Take the reins
Meaning: To take control
Give an Instance: She took the reins when the team was confused. / He took the reins of the science fair group.
Substitute Meaning: Took charge / Took over
9. Have the upper hand
Meaning: To have an advantage
Give an Instance: Sarah had the upper hand in the spelling contest. / With a bigger team, they had the upper hand.
Substitute Meaning: In a better position / Has the edge
10. On top of the world
Meaning: Feeling powerful and happy
Give an Instance: He felt on top of the world after winning. / I was on top of the world with my new bike.
Substitute Meaning: Super happy / Felt strong
11. Sit on the throne
Meaning: To be the ruler or leader
Give an Instance: In our pretend game, Mia sat on the throne. / The principal sits on the throne of the school.
Substitute Meaning: Leader / In charge
12. Put your foot down
Meaning: To say no in a strong way
Give an Instance: Mom put her foot down about bedtime. / The teacher put her foot down when kids were too loud.
Substitute Meaning: Stopped it firmly / Said no
13. At the helm
Meaning: Leading a group or project
Give an Instance: The captain is at the helm of the ship. / Dad is at the helm of our vacation planning.
Substitute Meaning: In charge / Leading
14. Have a say
Meaning: To have the power to share your opinion
Give an Instance: We all had a say in what movie to watch. / She wants to have a say in classroom rules.
Substitute Meaning: Give ideas / Share decisions
15. Carry weight
Meaning: To have influence
Give an Instance: His words carry weight with the teacher. / Her opinion carries weight in the group.
Substitute Meaning: People listen / Has power
16. Crack the whip
Meaning: To make people work hard
Give an Instance: The coach cracked the whip before the game. / Our leader cracked the whip on the project.
Substitute Meaning: Pushes others / Makes them work
17. Have the power
Meaning: To be able to make things happen
Give an Instance: She has the power to change the rules. / The student council has power at school.
Substitute Meaning: Can decide / Has control
18. Sit in judgment
Meaning: Decide who is right or wrong
Give an Instance: The referee sits in judgment during games. / Teachers sit in judgment when grading.
Substitute Meaning: Makes decisions / Judges
19. Flex your muscles
Meaning: Show your strength or power
Give an Instance: He flexed his muscles by leading the meeting. / The team flexed their muscles in the game.
Substitute Meaning: Showed strength / Showed power
20. Rise to power
Meaning: To become powerful
Give an Instance: She rose to power as team captain. / The mayor rose to power in the election.
Substitute Meaning: Gained control / Became leader
21. Call the tune
Meaning: Be the one who decides
Give an Instance: Grandma calls the tune at family dinners. / At school, the principal calls the tune.
Substitute Meaning: Makes the decisions / In charge
22. Have someone in your pocket
Meaning: Control someone secretly
Give an Instance: He has the coach in his pocket. / I think she has the rules in her pocket!
Substitute Meaning: Secret control / Has influence
23. Be the big cheese
Meaning: Be the most important person
Give an Instance: The boss is the big cheese at work. / He felt like the big cheese after the award.
Substitute Meaning: Top person / Leader
24. Lead the charge
Meaning: To be first to do something
Give an Instance: She led the charge in helping others. / He led the charge to clean up the park.
Substitute Meaning: Started first / Took action
25. Be in command
Meaning: To be the boss
Give an Instance: The officer is in command of the team. / Mom is in command at home.
Substitute Meaning: Leading / In charge
26. Rule with an iron fist
Meaning: Be very strict
Give an Instance: The coach ruled with an iron fist. / Our teacher rules with an iron fist about homework.
Substitute Meaning: Very strict / Tough
27. Climb the ladder
Meaning: Move up to more power
Give an Instance: She climbed the ladder to be team captain. / He’s climbing the ladder in student council.
Substitute Meaning: Get promoted / Gain power
28. Wear the crown
Meaning: Be the leader or best
Give an Instance: She wore the crown at the spelling bee. / He wore the crown in the classroom debate.
Substitute Meaning: Was the top / Best in group
29. Push buttons
Meaning: To control someone’s actions or feelings
Give an Instance: He knows how to push her buttons. / Don’t let her push your buttons!
Substitute Meaning: Get a reaction / Control feelings
30. Hold the key
Meaning: Have the main power
Give an Instance: The teacher holds the key to our grades. / She holds the key to the game plan.
Substitute Meaning: Has control / Main person
31. Take charge
Meaning: Start leading
Give an Instance: He took charge of the art project. / She took charge when the group was quiet.
Substitute Meaning: Became leader / Took control
32. Make waves
Meaning: Cause change
Give an Instance: She made waves with her strong ideas. / His speech made waves in class.
Substitute Meaning: Changed things / Got noticed
33. Set the tone
Meaning: Start in a certain way
Give an Instance: The principal set the tone with her welcome. / Music set the tone for the dance.
Substitute Meaning: Started the mood / Led the way
34. Get the green light
Meaning: Get permission to begin
Give an Instance: We got the green light for our project. / He got the green light to play music.
Substitute Meaning: Got approval / Allowed to begin
35. Run the show
Meaning: Be the boss
Give an Instance: She runs the show at her birthday party. / He runs the show during recess games.
Substitute Meaning: In charge / Leads the group
36. Rule the day
Meaning: Be the most important thing
Give an Instance: Teamwork ruled the day at field day. / Kindness ruled the day at the event.
Substitute Meaning: Was most important / Led
37. Lead the pack
Meaning: Be ahead of others
Give an Instance: She leads the pack in math class. / He leads the pack in reading.
Substitute Meaning: Best one / Ahead
38. Spin the wheel
Meaning: Control the direction
Give an Instance: The captain spins the wheel on the ship. / You spin the wheel when you make the call.
Substitute Meaning: In control / Making choices
39. The ball is in your court
Meaning: It’s your turn to decide
Give an Instance: The teacher gave the ball to us to pick the topic. / It’s your court now – choose!
Substitute Meaning: Your turn / You decide
40. Strike while the iron is hot
Meaning: Act when the time is right
Give an Instance: She struck while the iron was hot and asked to lead. / He asked the question when the time was right.
Substitute Meaning: Act fast / Do it now
41. Be a powerhouse
Meaning: Be full of energy and strength
Give an Instance: She’s a powerhouse on the field. / That idea is a real powerhouse.
Substitute Meaning: Super strong / Full of power
42. Have a firm hand
Meaning: Lead in a strong way
Give an Instance: The teacher has a firm hand in class. / Coaches use a firm hand at practice.
Substitute Meaning: Leads strictly / In control
43. Keep a tight grip
Meaning: Stay in control
Give an Instance: He keeps a tight grip on the team rules. / Mom keeps a tight grip on the house rules.
Substitute Meaning: Very careful / Fully in charge
44. In full swing
Meaning: Working at full power
Give an Instance: The party was in full swing. / The science fair was in full swing by noon.
Substitute Meaning: Fully happening / At full speed
45. In control
Meaning: Managing things well
Give an Instance: She stayed in control during the class debate. / He was in control of the group project.
Substitute Meaning: Stayed calm / Led well
Find the “Idioms for Power”
Reading Passage
Last Friday, our class was working on a group science project. We had to come up with a new way to save energy. Right away, Mia took the reins and started writing ideas on the board. She really knew how to call the shots. Everyone listened to her because her ideas carried weight.
Jake wanted to help, but he tried to throw his weight around a little too much. Mia had to put her foot down and reminded him to share the space. “Let’s all have a say,” she said kindly. Soon, we were all adding ideas and making a plan.
When our teacher stopped by, she saw that the project was in full swing. She said, “Looks like you’re in the driver’s seat, Mia.” Mia smiled. She had set the tone for how the group worked.
After the project was done, we got the green light to present it. Mia led the charge, and everyone followed. By the end of the day, she was clearly running the show. Our project got picked to go to the science fair!
Directions for Students
Read the passage again. Find and underline or list all the idioms for power used in the passage.
Answer Key
- Took the reins
- Call the shots
- Carried weight
- Throw his weight around
- Put her foot down
- Have a say
- In full swing
- In the driver’s seat
- Set the tone
- Got the green light
- Led the charge
- Running the show
Conclusion
Idioms about power help us talk about leadership, strength, and making choices. These phrases make stories more fun and easy to understand. They don’t always mean what the words say, but they show who is in charge and how people act when they lead.
By learning idioms like call the shots or take the reins, you can speak and write in a more interesting way. These phrases are useful when talking about school, sports, and everyday life. Keep an ear out you’ll hear them more than you think.
