rule the roost

Verb

rule the roost (third-person singular simple present rules the roost, present participle ruling the roost, simple past and past participle ruled the roost)

1. (idiomatic) To be the controlling member(s) of a family, organization, or other group.
   • His was biding his time, and patiently looking forward to the days when he himself would sit authoritative at some board, and talk and direct, and rule the roost, while lesser stars sat round and obeyed.1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Barchester Towers
   • Felix (nothing if not modern) had succumbed already to the feeling that youth ruled the roost.1915, John Galsworthy, chapter 16, in The Freelands

   Synonyms:

   wear the trousers