boss

The person who directs your work and tells you what to do.

• My boss is friendly.
• I asked my boss for a day off.
• Our bosses discussed the new work schedule.

Similar words: manager, supervisor

Opposites: subordinate

Common phrases: my boss, new boss, ask your boss

The person who runs or owns a business.

• The boss owns three shops.
• Company bosses agreed to raise wages.
• Our new boss plans to expand the business.

Similar words: head, chief, owner

Common phrases: company boss, big boss, factory boss

A powerful person who controls a political group in a particular area.

• The party boss chose the candidate.
• Local bosses controlled most of the votes.
• The mayor challenged the district’s powerful political boss.

Similar words: leader, chief

Common phrases: party boss, political boss, local boss

A humorous name for someone’s wife, suggesting she makes the decisions.

• I must ask the boss; she makes our weekend plans.
• My wife, the boss, chose the hotel.
• The boss says we need new curtains, so my wife and I are shopping.

Similar words: wife

Common phrases: the boss, ask the boss

To tell people what to do in an annoying or controlling way.

• Don’t boss me around.
• She bossed everyone about all afternoon.
• Why does he always boss his friends around?

How to use it: boss someone around/about (My brother keeps trying to boss me around.)

Similar words: order around, push around

Common phrases: boss someone around, boss someone about

Very good or impressive.

• That bike is boss.
• She wore a boss jacket.
• Your new sound system looks really boss.

Similar words: great, excellent, cool

Opposites: terrible

Common phrases: a boss car, look boss, really boss