control

Idioms (47)

• the balance of power Neutral · CEFR B2
  the way power or influence is distributed among competing groups, countries, or people
• in the hands of Neutral · CEFR B1
  under the control or responsibility of someone
• out of one's hands Neutral · CEFR B2
  no longer one's responsibility or under one's control
• get a handle on Informal · CEFR B2
  to gain understanding or control of a situation
• in the driving seat Informal · CEFR B2
  in control of a situation
• have the upper hand Neutral · CEFR B2
  to have an advantage or more control than someone else
• get carried away Informal · CEFR B2
  to become so excited or involved that you lose control
• the powers that be Neutral · CEFR C1
  the people who hold authority and make important decisions
• the ball is in your court Neutral · CEFR B2
  It is now your responsibility to make the next decision or move.
• get out of hand Neutral · CEFR B1
  To become impossible to control.
• get the better of Neutral · CEFR B2
  to defeat someone or gain control over a person or feeling
• take a back seat Neutral · CEFR B2
  to accept a less active or less important role and let others lead
• no man's land Neutral · CEFR B2
  an uncontrolled, disputed, or undefined area where occupying or intervening is unwise
• run riot Neutral · CEFR B2
  to behave in a wild, uncontrolled way that creates disorder
• get a grip Informal · CEFR B2
  regain composure and think calmly after becoming upset
• free rein Neutral · CEFR B2
  complete freedom to make choices or act without interference
• take liberties Neutral · CEFR B2
  behave with more freedom or authority than is acceptable, often without permission
• out on a limb Neutral · CEFR B2
  in a vulnerable position after taking an unusual or unsupported risk
• hold the line Neutral · CEFR B2
  to maintain a position, decision, or principle despite pressure
• go overboard Neutral · CEFR B2
  to do more than is reasonable, appropriate, or necessary
• under lock and key Neutral · CEFR B1
  kept securely locked away so that access or escape is prevented
• give someone the slip Neutral · CEFR B2
  to escape or evade someone who is following or pursuing you
• run amok Neutral · CEFR C1
  to behave wildly and without restraint, causing disorder or damage
• breathe down someone's neck Neutral · CEFR B2
  to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable
• play for time Neutral · CEFR B2
  to delay deliberately in order to prepare or avoid an immediate outcome
• rule the roost Neutral · CEFR B2
  To hold the most power in a household, organization, or other group and make the main decisions.
• open the floodgates Neutral · CEFR B2
  To remove a restraint and allow something to increase rapidly, often beyond control.
• keep a lid on Neutral · CEFR B2
  To keep information secret and prevent it from spreading.
• force someone's hand Neutral · CEFR B2
  To pressure someone into acting, often sooner than they had planned.
• lay down the law Neutral · CEFR B2
  to state rules firmly and make clear that they are not open to negotiation
• carrot and stick Neutral · CEFR B2
  a strategy that uses both incentives and penalties to steer behavior
• walk all over Informal · CEFR B2
  to dominate or treat someone disrespectfully as though they have no power
• over my dead body Informal · CEFR B2
  a forceful refusal meaning that something will never be allowed
• ride roughshod over Formal · CEFR C1
  to impose your will harshly while ignoring other people's rights or feelings
• fall in line Neutral · CEFR B1
  to obey or accept the rules and expectations set by a group or authority
• cramp someone's style Informal · CEFR B2
  to limit someone's freedom to behave or express themselves in their usual way
• jockey for position Neutral · CEFR C1
  to maneuver competitively in order to gain the most advantageous position
• friends in high places Neutral · CEFR B2
  powerful or influential acquaintances who can provide help or favorable treatment
• every which way Informal · CEFR B1
  in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way
• out of kilter Neutral · CEFR C1
  misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally
• stop at nothing Neutral · CEFR B2
  to pursue a goal without accepting any moral or practical limit
• first among equals Formal · CEFR C1
  a member of a formally equal group who holds the leading or most prominent role
• bread and circuses Formal · CEFR C1
  basic comforts and entertainment offered to distract the public from serious problems
• hold the purse strings Neutral · CEFR B2
  to control a budget and decide how money may be spent
• batten down the hatches Neutral · CEFR B2
  to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation
• money talks Neutral · CEFR B2
  financial power can strongly influence what people decide or do
• turn the other cheek Neutral · CEFR C1
  to respond to harm without retaliation, showing restraint or forgiveness