call the shots

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call (all) the shots

to decide on the course of action; to be in charge. Why do you have to call all the shots? Do what you're told. I'll call the shots.

See also: call, shot

call the shots and call the tune

Fig. to make the decisions; to decide what is to be done. Sally always wants to call the shots, and Mary doesn't like to be bossed around. They don't get along well. Sally always wants to call the tune.

See also: call, shot

call the shots/tune

to be the person who makes all the important decisions and who has the most power in a situation She was used to calling the shots, to being in charge.

See answer the call of nature, call in chips, bring to heel

See also: call, shot

call the shots

to make the important decisions The company was more successful when just one or two people were calling the shots.

Related vocabulary: call the tune

See also: call, shot

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? References in periodicals archive
Now there are a growing number of people of color behind the scenes, where owners, general managers, and coaches call the shots and control the economics, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics, which publishes annual report cards that evaluate the minority hiring practices of major sports leagues. The major leagues: have front-office positions opened up for blacks? by McCombs, Alexis / Black Enterprise 2 billion, a stake so large that at most modern corporations they would call the shots. Reign of L.A.'s royal family could be coming to an end by Russel, Joel / Los Angeles Business Journal Special interests pick up the tab, which is why they call the shots. EDITORIAL VOTERS, UNITE! WHATEVER YOU DO, VOTE by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) More results

? References in periodicals archive

Now there are a growing number of people of color behind the scenes, where owners, general managers, and coaches call the shots and control the economics, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics, which publishes annual report cards that evaluate the minority hiring practices of major sports leagues.

The major leagues: have front-office positions opened up for blacks? by McCombs, Alexis / Black Enterprise

2 billion, a stake so large that at most modern corporations they would call the shots.

Reign of L.A.'s royal family could be coming to an end by Russel, Joel / Los Angeles Business Journal

Special interests pick up the tab, which is why they call the shots.

EDITORIAL VOTERS, UNITE! WHATEVER YOU DO, VOTE by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

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call on
call on the carpet
call out
call over
call roll
call square
call the dogs off
call the shots
call the tune
call to
call to account
call to attention
call to mind
call together
call up

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