A: Have you decided which model of air conditioner you want to buy? B: Almost, but I will consult with my wife and make sure. She is the one who calls the tune in the house. Note: If someone “calls the tune,” they are in control of a situation and make all the important decisions. The phrase is a shortened version of “Who pays the piper calls the tune,” which means that the person who pays for something assumes control over it. This idiom, therefore, means to “dictate how a situation or agenda proceeds, as from a position of authority,” or simply “be in control.” We also use a similar term “to call the shots.” |