# show who's boss

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/show-whos-boss
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To demonstrate oneself to be dominant; to show that one has the upper hand.

## Examples

- The new manager wants to show who's boss.
- After the team ignored his instructions for a week, the supervisor held a meeting to show who's boss.
- The veteran captain felt compelled to show who's boss during the crisis, asserting his authority to restore order among the panicked crew.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.