throw one's weight around

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Verb

throw one's weight around (third-person singular simple present throws one's weight around, present participle throwing one's weight around, simple past threw one's weight around, past participle thrown one's weight around)

1. (idiomatic) To exercise influence or authority, especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.

   Jim was a tyrant who threw his weight around when it came to punishing his students.

See also

• carry one's weight
• cut a wide swath
• override one's commission
• pull rank

References

• “throw your weight around” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.