director's chair

American  

noun

1. a lightweight folding armchair with transversely crossed legs and having a canvas seat and back panel, as traditionally used by motion-picture directors.

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director's chair British  

noun

1. a light wooden folding chair with arm rests and a canvas seat and back

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Etymology

Origin of director's chair

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But you don’t have to play every role yourself—take the director’s chair, define the scenes, and choose your cast from the parts of yourself that serve the story you truly want to tell.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

But while Gallo believes Arango understood the nuances of the narrative, it admittedly pained them to relinquish the director’s chair.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2025

Perhaps she'll return to the director's chair in 2025?

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

"I sat down in the director's chair, and I looked at Peter's face, and I just relaxed. I was just like, 'Thank God,'" Donovan tells me via FaceTime.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2024

He, Skid, and Aaron had pitched in and gotten me a director’s chair with my name on it.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon