call the shots

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.

Example Sentences

North Korean state media called the shots a "deliberate provocation" and Pyongyang has accused Seoul of risking "uncontrollable" tensions.

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But with “Drop,” Fahy reminds the next generation of women that they call the shots in their own lives, no matter who tries to tell them otherwise.

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While Mama called the shots and preferred to keep the menu basic, she was still willing to innovate when necessary, said her daughter Margarita.

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Now, he lets the haunting call the shots, as it guides him to reviving the building however it sees fit.

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While other superstars in this town call the shots, Betts simply absorbs.

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