show who's boss
Establish your dominance
To show who's boss is to demonstrate authority or dominance, often through forceful action meant to establish control: The new manager fired two people on day one just to show who's boss.
The phrase implies the authority wasn't previously recognized or respected, prompting a display of power to settle the question.
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- call the shotsExercise ultimate authority
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- leadershipAbility to direct others
put your foot down · dominance · top dog · supremacy · control · take charge · decisiveness · crack the whip · submission · enforcement · hierarchy · intimidation · persuasion · coercion · lay down the law · read the riot act · alpha · discipline
show who's bosssubmit
Present for consideration
yield · capitulate · surrender · bow down · defer
show who's bossgo along with
Accept another's proposal
accommodate · acquiesce · comply · concede · take a back seat
show, shows, showed, shown, showing, showy, showily, showiness, whose