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UKcall the shots / tune
/kˈɔːl ðə ʃˈɒts tjˈuːn/
/kˈɔːl ðə ʃˈɑːts tˈuːn/to call the shots / tune
[PHRASE]1
to be in control of a particular situation and be the one who decides what needs to be done
What is the origin of the idiom "call the shots" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "call the shots" can be traced back to the sport of billiards or pool. In billiards, the player who "calls the shots" is the one who declares which ball they intend to hit and into which pocket it will go. By doing so, they take control of the game and determine the sequence of shots. It is often used when discussing leadership roles, management positions, or situations where one is responsible for directing and determining the course of action.
Examples
1. The politician realized that he who pays the piper, calls the tune, and that he needed to listen to the concerns of his campaign donors.
2. You actually have to have the money guys who are actually really calling the shots.
3. Helper Ts themselves can’t kill, but they can activate cells that do, and they help call the shots for the whole adaptive immune response.
4. Helper T cells have a cute-sounding name, but in a lot of ways they call the shots for the whole immune system.
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