The combinations for this comparison are virtually limitless.
’Hath’ has been modernized to ‘has.’
In another version of the tale Morelia, Poe kept the comparison but changed the frame of reference to the mystery of the wife’s manner instead of her company.
(See also DOMINATION, MANIPULATION.)
call the shots See call one’s shots, COMMUNICATION.
carry the ball To assume responsibility for the progress of an undertaking; to be in charge and bear the burden of success or failure. This metaphorical expression stems from the role of the ball carrier in American football.
corner the market To possess, have access to, or be in control of something which is in demand; from the financial practice of attempting to secure control over particular stocks or commodities. This U.S. expression, dating from the mid-19th century, was originally heard only in financial contexts; however it is now heard in noncommercial contexts as well. In financial terms, a “cornering” involves one party buying all of one kind of stock or commodity, thereby driving potential buyers and sellers into a corner because they have no option but to acquiesce to the price demands of those controlling the stock.
have the ball at one’s feet See ADVANTAGE.
have the world on a string See ELATION.
hold the fort To take charge, often to act as a temporary substitute; to remain at one’s post, to maintain or defend one’s position. This expression is attributed to General Sherman, who in 1864 is said to have signaled this message to General Corse. In modern use, fort can refer to a place or a philosophical position.
Elizabeth and her archbishops … had held the fort until their church had come … to have an ethos of its own. (A. L. Rowse, Tudor Cornwall, 1941)
hold the line To try to prevent a situation from becoming uncontrollable or unwieldy; to maintain the status quo. This Americanism probably comes from the game of football. It is frequently heard in an economic context, as in “to hold the line on taxes” or “to hold the line on prices.”
hold the purse strings To determine how much money shall be spent and how much saved; to regulate the expenditure of money. Purse strings refers literally to the strings at the mouth of a money pouch which can be tightened or loosened, thereby controlling the amount of money put in or taken out. By extension, this term also refers to the right to manage monies. To “hold the purse strings” is to be in charge of the finances.
the one who pays the piper calls the tune An adage implying that a person has control of a project or other matter by virtue of bearing its expenses. The figurative use of this expression is derived from its literal meaning, i.e., someone who pays a musician has the right to request a certain song.
Londoners had paid the piper, and should choose the tune. (Daily News, December 18, 1895)
See also pay the piper, CONSEQUENCES.
run a tight ship To maintain good order and firm discipline; to manage a project or organization so that its interdependent parts and personnel function smoothly together, with machinelike efficiency and precision. A literal tight ship is one which is both watertight and well-run, in that officers and crew carry out their respective roles with an absence of friction. Though to run a tight ship may have connotations of martinetlike strictness, it is usually used positively to compliment an efficient administrator.
Control can be a verb or a noun.
If someone controls something such as a country or an organization, they have the power to take all the important decisions about the way it is run.
When control is a verb, it is not followed by a preposition.
Control is also used as a noun to refer to the power that someone has in a country or organization. You say that someone has control of a country or organization, or control over it.
Control is used as a noun to refer to a place where your documents and luggage are officially checked when you enter a foreign country.
Don't use control as a verb to mean 'check' or 'inspect'. Don't say, for example, 'My luggage was controlled'. You say 'My luggage was checked' or 'My luggage was inspected'.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() power, powerfulness - possession of controlling influence; "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade" authority, potency, authorization, authorisation, say-so, dominance - the power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the state" corporatism - control of a state or organization by large interest groups; "individualism is in danger of being swamped by a kind of corporatism" hold - power by which something or someone is affected or dominated; "he has a hold over them" iron fist - rigorous or ruthless control; "she rules the office with an iron fist"; "it takes an iron fist to contain the dissenting factions" rein - any means of control; "he took up the reins of government" |
2. | control - a relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another; "measures for the control of disease"; "they instituted controls over drinking on campus" relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together | |
3. | control - (physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc; "the timing and control of his movements were unimpaired"; "he had lost control of his sphincters" motor control - control of muscles physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms bodily function, bodily process, body process, activity - an organic process that takes place in the body; "respiratory activity" | |
4. | control - a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment; "the control condition was inappropriate for the conclusions he wished to draw" experiment, experimentation - the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation | |
5. | control - the activity of managing or exerting control over something; "the control of the mob by the police was admirable" activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity" repression - the act of repressing; control by holding down; "his goal was the repression of insolence" crowd control - activity of controlling a crowd damage control - an effort to minimize or curtail damage or loss federalisation, federalization - the act of being put under federal control flight control - control from ground stations of airplanes in flight by means of messages transmitted to the pilot electronically flood control - (engineering) the art or technique of trying to control rivers with dams etc in order to minimize the occurrence of floods imperialism - any instance of aggressive extension of authority regulating, regulation - the act of controlling or directing according to rule; "fiscal regulations are in the hands of politicians" internal control - an accounting procedure or system designed to promote efficiency or assure the implementation of a policy or safeguard assets or avoid fraud and error etc. possession, ownership - the act of having and controlling property possession - (sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck); "they took possession of the ball on their own goal line" power trip - (slang) a self-aggrandizing action undertaken simply for the pleasure of exercising control over other people riot control, riot control operation - the measures taken to control a riot prehension, taking hold, grasping, seizing - the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles) steering, guidance, direction - the act of setting and holding a course; "a new council was installed under the direction of the king" traffic control - control of the flow of traffic in a building or a city price-fixing - control (by agreement among producers or by government) of the price of a commodity in interstate commerce restraint - the act of controlling by restraining someone or something; "the unlawful restraint of trade" | |
6. | ![]() condition, status - a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations" ascendant, ascendent - position or state of being dominant or in control; "that idea was in the ascendant" dominion, rule - dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar" regulation - the state of being controlled or governed monopoly - exclusive control or possession of something; "They have no monopoly on intelligence" | |
7. | control - discipline in personal and social activities; "he was a model of polite restraint"; "she never lost control of herself" discipline - the trait of being well behaved; "he insisted on discipline among the troops" self-restraint, temperateness - exhibiting restraint imposed on the self; "an effective temperateness in debate" temperance, moderation - the trait of avoiding excesses inhibition - the quality of being inhibited continence - voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge | |
8. | ![]() skillfulness - the state of being cognitively skillful | |
9. | control - a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine; "the speed controller on his turntable was not working properly"; "I turned the controls over to her" cruise control - control mechanism for keeping an automobile at a set speed dial - the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning disk controller - (computer science) a circuit or chip that translates commands into a form that can control a hard disk drive governor, regulator - a control that maintains a steady speed in a machine (as by controlling the supply of fuel) handwheel - control consisting of a wheel whose rim serves as the handle by which a part is operated joystick - a manual control consisting of a vertical handle that can move freely in two directions; used as an input device to computers or to devices controlled by computers mechanism - device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function regulator - any of various controls or devices for regulating or controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, etc. electric switch, electrical switch, switch - control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit valve - control consisting of a mechanical device for controlling the flow of a fluid | |
10. | control - a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance disembodied spirit, spirit - any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings | |
11. | control - the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.; "they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls" economic policy - a government policy for maintaining economic growth and tax revenues price control - restriction on maximum prices that is established and maintained by the government (as during periods of war or inflation) | |
Verb | 1. | control - exercise authoritative control or power over; "control the budget"; "Command the military forces" preoccupy - engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively; "His work preoccupies him"; "The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else" channelise, channelize, guide, maneuver, steer, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, head, direct - direct the course; determine the direction of travelling steer - direct (oneself) somewhere; "Steer clear of him" hold one's own - maintain one's position and be in control of a situation handle, manage, care, deal - be in charge of, act on, or dispose of; "I can deal with this crew of workers"; "This blender can't handle nuts"; "She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old" internationalise, internationalize - put under international control; "internationalize trade of certain drugs" hold - take and maintain control over, often by violent means; "The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week" hold sway - be master; reign or rule govern - direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct" regiment - subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization; "regiment one's children" monopolise, monopolize - have and control fully and exclusively; "He monopolizes the laser printer" corner - gain control over; "corner the gold market" preside - act as president; "preside over companies and corporations" dominate, master - have dominance or the power to defeat over; "Her pain completely mastered her"; "The methods can master the problems" call the shots, call the tune, wear the trousers - exercise authority or be in charge; "Who is calling the shots in this house?" |
2. | ![]() confine, limit, throttle, trammel, restrain, restrict, bound - place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends" conquer, inhibit, stamp down, suppress, subdue, curb - to put down by force or authority; "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires" damp - restrain or discourage; "the sudden bad news damped the joyous atmosphere" mortify, subdue, crucify - hold within limits and control; "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh" abnegate, deny - deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure; "She denied herself wine and spirits" keep back, restrain, hold back, keep - keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool" restrict - place under restrictions; limit access to; "This substance is controlled" train - cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it; "train the vine" catch - check oneself during an action; "She managed to catch herself before telling her boss what was on her mind" bate - moderate or restrain; lessen the force of; "He bated his breath when talking about this affair"; "capable of bating his enthusiasm" thermostat - control the temperature with a thermostat countercheck, counteract - oppose or check by a counteraction | |
3. | control - handle and cause to function; "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol"; "control the lever" synchronise, synchronize - operate simultaneously; "The clocks synchronize" master, control - have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; "Do you control these data?" dial - operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial" manipulate - hold something in one's hands and move it turn - alter the functioning or setting of; "turn the dial to 10"; "turn the heat down" submarine - control a submarine treadle - operate (machinery) by a treadle relay - control or operate by relay gate - control with a valve or other device that functions like a gate pedal - operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument drive - operate or control a vehicle; "drive a car or bus"; "Can you drive this four-wheel truck?" | |
4. | control - control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage; "She manipulates her boss"; "She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up"; "The teacher knew how to keep the class in line"; "she keeps in line" tease - to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them; "The advertisement is intended to tease the customers"; "She has a way of teasing men with her flirtatious behavior" handle - show and train; "The prize-winning poodle was handled by Mrs. Priscilla Prescott" ingratiate - gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts interact - act together or towards others or with others; "He should interact more with his colleagues" | |
5. | control - check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard; "Are you controlling for the temperature?" science, scientific discipline - a particular branch of scientific knowledge; "the science of genetics" | |
6. | control - verify by using a duplicate register for comparison; "control an account" archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression | |
7. | control - be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something; "He verified that the valves were closed"; "See that the curtains are closed"; "control the quality of the product" check off, tick off, mark off, tick, check, mark - put a check mark on or near or next to; "Please check each name on the list"; "tick off the items"; "mark off the units" control - verify by using a duplicate register for comparison; "control an account" check - verify by consulting a source or authority; "check the spelling of this word"; "check your facts" double-check - check once more to be absolutely sure cross-check - check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example cinch - make sure of card - ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor; "I was carded when I tried to buy a beer!" spot-check - pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality verify - confirm the truth of; "Please verify that the doors are closed"; "verify a claim" ascertain, find out, learn, watch, determine, see, check - find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time" cover - maintain a check on; especially by patrolling; "The second officer covered the top floor" | |
8. | control - have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; "Do you control these data?" know - know how to do or perform something; "She knows how to knit"; "Does your husband know how to cook?" cinch - get a grip on; get mastery of |