To tell people what to do

order (verb)

to tell someone to do something, or to say that something should be done, in a way that shows you have authority

order around ()

to keep telling someone what to do as if you have authority over them, in a way that annoys people

tell (verb)

to order or strongly advise someone to do something

command (verb)

to officially order someone to do something

dictate (verb)

to tell someone exactly what to do and how to behave

instruct (verb)

formal to tell someone to do something, especially officially or as their employer

boss around ()

to keep telling other people what to do

push around ()

to keep telling someone what to do in an unfair and unpleasant way

decree (verb)

if a leader or government decrees something, they officially decide or order it

lay down the law ()

to tell someone what to do or how to behave in a way that shows that you expect them to obey you completely

bid (verb)

literary to order someone to do something

call someone’s bluff ()

to ask someone to do what they are threatening to do because you believe they do not intend to do it, but want to trick you in order to gain an advantage over you

charge (verb)

formal to make someone officially responsible for doing something

defy someone to do something ()

to tell someone to prove that something is possible by doing it

delegate (verb)

to give part of your work, duties, or responsibilities to someone who is junior to you

depute (verb)

formal to give someone official authority to do something that you are responsible for doing

direct (verb)

to tell or show someone the way to a place or where to go by giving them instructions or by pointing

direct (verb)

formal to give someone instructions to do something

enforce (verb)

to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people

enjoin someone to do something ()

to strongly advise or order someone to do something

give/say the word ()

to give someone an order to do something

lay down ()

to state officially what someone must do or how they must do it

let (verb)

used for giving an order or instruction

moralise ()

a British spelling of moralize

moralize (verb)

showing disapproval to tell people how they should behave, because you believe that your own opinion of right and wrong is the correct one

point (verb)

to show someone what they should do

require (verb)

if a rule, law, contract etc requires something, you must do that thing

run someone’s life ()

to keep telling someone what they should do in a way that is annoying

say (verb)

informal to tell someone to do something

sermonise ()

a British spelling of sermonize

sermonize (verb)

to tell someone how to behave in a morally correct way, although they do not want to hear it

set (verb)

to give something to someone to do or to achieve

set down (formal)

formal to state officially how something should be done

show someone who’s boss ()

to show someone that you have more power or authority than they have

task (verb)

to give someone a particular responsibility

tax with ()

to order someone to do something

throw your weight about/around ()

to use your authority to tell other people what to do in a rude and unpleasant way

Synonyms and antonyms of To tell people what to do in British Thesaurus