call the shots 
idiom, informal

- to be the person who controls a situation or makes the decisions 

- to be in the position of being able to make the decisions which will influence a situation to be in charge

- to make the key decisions to exercise authority by dictating policy or direction

Cambridge Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN 

The expression originated in the early 20th century in American military and sports marksmanship. On the target range, an instructor or spotter sat with a telescope and called the shots, marking out loud precisely where each bullet struck the target so the rifleman could adjust his sights.

A parallel usage existed among competitive marksmen who called their shots beforehand, naming the ring they intended to hit to demonstrate complete control of the firearm. A secondary influence came from pocket billiards, where players must declare both the target ball and the chosen pocket before striking.

By the 1960s, the phrase slipped entirely out of military manuals and pool halls into corporate boardrooms and political commentary. The shift from assessing where a projectile landed to commanding what an entire organisation does was natural: whoever tells others where their bullets must go is the person in charge.

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

be in charge, be in control, be in the driving seat (the saddle), call the tune, CALL THE SHOTS, give the orders, have the final say, hold the reins, make the decisions, pull the strings, rule the roost, run the show, wear the trousers

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“It’s not always the case that the highest in the hierarchy CALLS THE SHOTS.” 

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