throw one's weight around, to
throw one's weight around
Fig. to attempt to boss people around; to give orders. The district manager came to our office and tried to throw his weight around, but no one paid any attention to him. Don't try to throw your weight around in this office. We know who our boss is.
See also: around, throw, weight
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
throw one's weight around
Wield power or authority, especially in a heavy-handed way. For example, One doesn't make oneself popular by throwing one's weight around. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
See also: around, throw, weight
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
throw (one's) weight around
Slang To use power or authority, especially in an excessive or heavy-handed way.
See also: around, throw, weight
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
throw one's weight around, to
To use one’s wealth or standing to manipulate others; to act officiously. This expression dates from the early twentieth century and uses weight in the sense of “authority.” John P. Marquand had it in H. M. Pulham, Esquire (1941): “Bo-jo was a bastard, a big bastard. Perhaps he meant that Bo-jo sometimes threw his weight around.”
See also: throw, weight
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- get (someone) around the table
- get around the table
- around (one's) ears
- find way around
- bomb around
- go around and around
- gaze around
- crowd around
- crowd around (someone or something)
- cut around