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boss

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who died and made you boss

slang A set phrase used to express frustration with another's bossiness. A: "You have to clean your room and take out the trash before you go out tonight." B: "Geez, who died and made you boss?" Who died and made you boss? Quit telling me what to do!

See also: and, boss, die, made, who

boss someone around

to give orders to someone; to keep telling someone what to do. Stop bossing me around. I'm not your employee. Captain Smith bosses around the whole crew. That's his job.

See also: around, boss

show somebody who's boss

to make clear who has more power When you're trying to get kids to behave, you have to show them who's boss.

See also: boss, show

boss somebody around

to tell someone what to do States and communities have complained that they're being bossed around by Washington.

See also: around, boss

boss around

Tell someone what to do, give orders. For example, David complained that his older sister was always bossing him around. The use of boss in the sense of "to dominate" dates from the mid-1800s, and around was added a few decades later.

See also: around, boss

straw boss

A subordinate boss, a worker who supervises other workers as well as performing regular duties. For example, Jim was pleased when he was promoted to straw boss. This term alludes to the person's position as a straw man, that is, a front or cover for the real boss and of only nominal importance. [Late 1800s]

See also: boss, straw

boss around

v.

To give someone orders in a forceful and unpleasant way: My older brothers and sisters are always bossing me around. What gives you the right to boss around everyone on the playground?

See also: around, boss

boss

mod. excellent; powerful; superior. That is a boss tune.

boss dick

n. a cop; a police officer. (see also dick = detective.) The boss dick slugged me in the face and said I should be more careful.

See also: boss, dick

boss lady

n. the woman in charge. You’ll have to ask the boss lady.

See also: boss, lady

boss man

n. the man in charge. I guess the boss man is about ready to retire.

See also: boss, man

straw boss

n. a foreman; anyone who is second in command. I don’t mind being a straw boss as long as they pay me.

See also: boss, straw