[call] the (shots|tune)
1
to be in control of a particular situation and be the one who decides what needs to be done
The origin of the idiom "call the shots" can be traced back to the sport of billiards or pool. In billiards, the player who "calls the shots" is the one who declares which ball they intend to hit and into which pocket it will go. By doing so, they take control of the game and determine the sequence of shots. It is often used when discussing leadership roles, management positions, or situations where one is responsible for directing and determining the course of action.
- The CEO of the company calls the shots when it comes to major business decisions.
- As the team captain, she calls the shots on the field and directs the plays.
- The director calls the tune during the film production, deciding on scenes, camera angles, and overall creative vision.
- In their relationship, he likes to call the tune and make most of the decisions.
- The project manager calls the shots in terms of deadlines, resource allocation, and project milestones.