hold court
Dominate the conversation
To hold court is to preside over an assembly, originally a royal or judicial setting where a ruler or judge received visitors and rendered decisions.
The phrase now typically describes someone commanding attention in a social gathering, entertaining or lecturing while others listen: He held court at the bar, telling stories until closing time.
Uninterrupted solo address
- pontificateSpeak in dogmatic manner
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- entertainAmuse or host
- regaleEntertain sumptuously
storytelling · anecdote · raconteur · charismatic · engaging · audience · spellbind · enthrall
monologue
Uninterrupted solo address
- pontificateSpeak in dogmatic manner
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- entertainAmuse or host
regale · storytelling · anecdote · raconteur · charismatic · engaging · audience · spellbind · enthrall · presence
gathering
Collection of people meeting
- entourageAttendants accompanying someone important
- admirersPeople who appreciate someone
- salonGrooming establishment or gathering
reception · circle · followers · mingle · soiree · schmooze · coterie · clique · retinue · audience
- powerauthority, electric power, nuclear power, solar power, wind power
- royal actionscoronation, decree, abdication, reign, knighting
hold courttake a back seat
Become less prominent
bite one's tongue · hold one's tongue · be all ears · hang back · hold one's peace
hold, court, held, holder, holding, uphold, withhold, holds, courts