threw one's weight around
Acted overly bossy
To throw one's weight around is to use one's influence, authority, or power in an aggressive or domineering way, often to get what one wants regardless of others' preferences.
The expression suggests someone who throws their physical bulk around a space, making their presence unavoidably felt.
The new manager immediately started throwing his weight around, demanding changes nobody asked for.
It nearly always carries a negative connotation of bullying or intimidation.
- assertDeclare confidently true
- call the shotsExercise ultimate authority
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- dominateControl through superior strength
- intimidateInstill fear to control
coerce · impose · overstep · patronize · command · dictate · lay down the law · browbeat · pull rank · hierarchy · pecking order · manipulate · enforce · swagger · alpha male · big cheese · insist · control
threw one's weight arounddeferred
Set aside until later
yielded · submitted · kept a low profile · took a back seat · kowtowed
thrown, throws, throwing, thrower, weight, weights, weighted, weighting, weighty