> Other English exercises on the same topics: Making portraits, describing | Idioms | Introducing someone [Change theme]
	> Similar tests: - Describing a face - Describing a picture - Dialogue : Talking about the age and birthday - Dialogue : In order to be an au-pair girl. - Dialogue : Talking about your family - Wishing a happy birthday - Adjectives: where to place them? - Dialogue : A new friend.
	> Double-click on words you don't understand

Vocabulary: authority

It's not only the degree of that authority which is questioned, but also the nature of it... I did research and found there were several "kinds" of authority; I have found three... then six, even thirteen! and finally sixteen... Could it be more?    It doesn't matter, really... I'm not doing sociology... simply vocabulary! 

We're also dealing with "natural authority" and with "velvet-gloved authority", which are much more pleasant to my eyes and ears when considering  this ambivalent notion.

"An iron hand in a velvet glove"... (Bernadotte)

- To have the situation under control

- To boss somebody around

- To have the whip hand over somebody

- To throw one's weight around

- Under constraint

- To make somebody do something

- To force somebody to do something

- To compel somebody to do/ to oblige somebody to do

- To twist somebody's arm/ to put the arm on somebody

- To bring to heel: to force someone to behave in a disciplined manner

- To bulldoze (someone) into doing something: to force to do it, especially by being bullied or intimidated.

- Call the shots/ call the tune: make all the important decisions and is in control of the situation.

- Carry weight: influential or important.

- Too many chiefs, not enough Indians: too many people giving instructions and not enough people doing the work.

- Hold the reins: to be in complete control of a company, firm or organisation.

- Might is right: being the most powerful person or country gives you the right to do whatever you want.

- Top dog: better or more powerful than others

- Under your thumb: under your control or influence

- Gain/get the upper hand: take control over something

Yes, I know... There are many expressions to remember... but of course, you may feel free to learn only the ones you like...

The test isn't difficult and you will pass it with flying colours!

May THE FORCE be with you! 

Twitter Share
English exercise "Vocabulary: authority" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. He spoke in such an influentialauthoritativeimperiousI don't know voice that people thought he was very aggressive.



2. 'Don’t be worried, Tom is in charge ofexercising overunderI don't know the security of the transactions. Everything will be alright!'



3. 'In my previous company, I used to exercisepreside overmanageI don't know several teams of assistants.'



4. I didn’t have to hold the reinstwist his armbulldoze himI don't know too much. He accepted the task quite easily.



5. As he is the big brother of the family, Paul bosses aroundpresides overmanagesI don't know his younger brothers and sisters.



6. This manager was acting like a real aggressivedictatorauthoritarianI don't know and kept shouting at every employee.



7. Frank is so stubborn that it’s impossible to presidebosscompelI don't know him to do something if he has decided otherwise.



8. You need to make her obey in order to bring her to heelhold the reinsget upper handsI don't know so that she does what needs to be done.



9. Dad will never let me boss aroundbring him to my heelhold the reinsI don't know during his absence from home.



10. Tom thought he had held the reinsgot the upper handpresidedI don't know over his opponent, but lost two consecutive sets and gave up.