boss around

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle around

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Tell someone what to do in an annoying way

Bossinginformal

Why “around”? Someone acts like they are in charge. They keep telling other people what to do.

“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.

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“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.

order around

Same around pattern: bossing

Continually tell someone what to do

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