Obedience: English Vocabulary List

to do things as desired or required by someone else

"You always dance to his tune."

"The new employee dances to his manager tune and does everything exactly as he is told."

to have power and influence over someone

"The debt has him by the balls."

"The landlord discovered a serious code violation, giving him the power to have the tenant by the balls."

in a way that closely imitates what the others are doing in an unquestioning manner

"The fans followed each other like sheep."

"The crowd followed the charismatic leader like sheep, accepting his every word without critical thought."

used to demonstrate one's complete obedience

"Your wish is my command."

"The devoted assistant always responded with 'Your wish is my command,' eager to fulfill any request from her boss."

to have someone under one's complete domination or control

"She had him eating out of her hand."

"The charismatic speaker had the entire audience eating out of his hand from the very first sentence of his speech."

completely under one's direct control

"He is under her thumb."

"The manager had his employees completely under his thumb, dictating every aspect of their work."

to manage to convince someone to do whatever one asks of them out of love or respect that they have for one

"She wrapped him around her finger."

"The charming salesperson managed to wrap the customer around her little finger with a smile."

at someone's complete service

"She is at her boss's beck and call."

"The wealthy heir had a team of assistants at his beck and call, ready to fulfill his every whim."

to accept to obey someone

"The dog came to heel immediately."

"The disobedient dog finally came to heel when his owner showed him the tasty treat."

to order someone to do something for one

"Just give the word."

"Tell me when you are ready to start the project, and I will give the word to begin."

to use force to make someone do as one says

"The new coach brought us to heel."

"The company threatened legal action to bring the rebellious employees to heel and enforce the new policy."

to have complete control over another individual

"I have him by short hairs."

"With the evidence I possess, I have the suspect by the short hairs."

to unwillingly obey the rules and accept the ideas or principles of a specific group or person

"All employees must toe the line."

"The strict teacher expects all students to toe the line and follow every single classroom rule."