IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishcall the shots
Meaning: To be in control or to give orders.
Example: “In this kitchen, the head chef calls the shots.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: Faire la pluie et le beau temps Literally: To make the rain and fair weather
Spanish: Tener la sartén por el mango Literally: To hold the frying pan by the handle
Origin: Probably from target shooting and games such as pool, where a player must announce ("call") which shot they will make before taking it. The figurative sense of being in control is American from the mid-20th century.
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