call the shots

Idioms  

1. Exercise authority, be in charge, as in It's up to the boss to call the shots. This term probably alludes to determining accuracy in target practice. [Mid-1900s] Also see call the tune.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

call the shots

The role of prime minister does not typically include a say on military strategy or frontline operations, where Zelensky and his military chiefs call the shots.

From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026

And after years of advising C-suite decision makers, he wanted to call the shots.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

"They are absolutely emaciated - and have limited powers to raise revenue, appoint people, allocate funds. Instead, it is the chief ministers of the states who act like super mayors and call the shots."

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025

But ultimately, it’s the university administrators who call the shots.

From Slate ● May 27, 2025

And now I was finally in a position to call the shots.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon