Phrase guide

show who's boss

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To demonstrate that one is dominant over or superior to someone; to establish that one has control of some device or intractable object.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: teach someone who's the boss

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: näyttää, kuka on pomo — to show dominance
  • Polish: pokazywać, kto tu rządzi — to show dominance
  • Polish: pokazać, kto tu rządzi — to show dominance
  • Portuguese: mostrar quem é que manda — to show dominance
  • Finnish: näyttää, kuka on pomo — to demonstrate dominance
  • Polish: pokazywać, kto tu rządzi — to demonstrate dominance
  • Polish: pokazać, kto tu rządzi — to demonstrate dominance
  • Portuguese: mostrar quem é que manda — to demonstrate dominance