Lord It Over: When Arrogance Ascends to Its Throne 👑🏰
Definition
To behave arrogantly, assuming airs of authority and self-importance; to dominate.
Origins and History
The noun “lord” has been in use since around the year 900, originating from Middle English. It began to be used as a verb denoting domineering behavior in the seventeenth century. By the early nineteenth century, it was being used more figuratively. Wordsworth wrote in Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death, “You grey towers that still rise up as if to lord it over air.” Meanwhile, Washington Irving in Rip Van Winkle (1820) remarked, “The Kaatskill Mountains are seen . . . lording it over the surrounding country.”
Synonyms
- Domineer
- Boss around
- Overbear
- Strut
- Swagger
- Throw one’s weight around
Antonyms
- Obey
- Yield
- Bow
- Submit
- Comply
Witty Quotes
- “He acted like he was the king of the world, but in reality, he was just lording it over us commoners.” – Anon
- “The art of being sometimes audacious and sometimes obsequious is pretty much the secret of success.” – Harper Lee
Similar Phrases
- “Put on airs”
- “High and mighty”
- “Act highfalutin”
- “Put one’s feet up on the throne”
- “Be on one’s high horse”
Related Proverbs and Expressions
- “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
- “A king is known by his reign, people can know through actions if it is a boon or a pain.”
- “The higher the castle, the deeper the moat.”
Recommended Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: Lord of the Flies by William Golding – A powerful insight into the dynamics of domination.
- Poetry: Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley – Explores themes of power, arrogance, and the passage of time.
- Movie: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – Full of lords, literal and figurative, and their complex dominance relationships.
- Song: You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones – A lament about control and dominance.
Quizzes
Farewell Thought:
As you navigate your own kingdoms and empires, remember: true power lies not in lording it over others but in leading with humility and wisdom. 🌟
