Throw your weight around

Meaning

Use authority aggressively or boastfully.

Usage

Used to scold domineering behavior.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Physical metaphor for using body weight to push others.

Appears in 20th-century social criticism about bullying leaders.