call the tune

Idioms: call the tune

Make important decisions, exercise authority, as in Nancy said that it's her turn to call the tune. The full term is Who pays the piper calls the tune, meaning whoever bears the cost of an enterprise should have authority over it. [Late 1800s] Also see the synonym call the shots.

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WordNet: call the tune

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The verb has one meaning:

Meaning #1: exercise authority or be in charge
Synonyms: call the shots, wear the trousers

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	tune (Idiom)
	call the shots (Idiom)
	pay (Idiom)

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Copyrights:

		Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more