boss around

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle around

Meanings

1

Tell someone what to do in an annoying way

Control

Why “around”? Pressure comes from all sides. A person is pushed around instead of choosing freely.

“Stop bossing me around.”
Stop telling me what to do in an annoying way.
“Her brother bosses everyone around at home.”
Her brother tells everyone what to do in an annoying way at home.

Test yourself

“Stop bossing me around.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

mess around

Same around pattern: control

Spend time in a careless or playful way; Treat someone unfairly or unreliably

order around

Same around pattern: control

Continually tell someone what to do

push around

Same around pattern: control

Treat someone roughly or unfairly

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