rule the roost
Control the household
To rule the roost is to be in charge, especially of a household or small domain.
The phrase evokes a rooster presiding over the henhouse: Her grandmother ruled the roost—nothing happened without her approval.
Sometimes the dominant figure rules despite lacking formal authority.
- call the shotsExercise ultimate authority
- call the tuneControl what happens
- run the showControl an operation
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- bossWorkplace superior
pecking order · cock of the walk · domineer · control · reign · take charge · leader · king of the castle · wear the pants · rooster · hen-pecked · govern · preside · alpha · matriarch · crow · head honcho · hold the reins
- bird expressionsearly bird, birdbrain, bird brain, lovebirds, jailbird
- farm idiomsmake hay while the sun shines, cream of the crop, put the cart before the horse, till the cows come home, buy the farm
- powerauthority, electric power, nuclear power, solar power, wind power
- Leadership idiomslead by example, take the reins, at the helm, call the shots, take charge
rule the roosttake orders
Follow someone's commands
follow orders · obey · kowtow · play second fiddle · toe the line
rule the roostback down
Withdraw from a stance
cave in · capitulate · yield · acquiesce · go along with
rule the roostkeep a low profile
Remain unnoticed deliberately
shrink away · go along to get along · defer · stay in one's lane
rule, ruler, rules, ruling, ruled, rulers, roost, overrule, rulebook