zhǐ
shǐ

idiom
formal
derogatory

Meaning of 颐指气使

颐指气使 means to order people about by facial gestures and breathing; to act in an arrogant and bossy manner. Pronounced yí zhǐ qì shǐ.

  • to order people about by facial gestures and breathing; to act in an arrogant and bossy manner

Definitions & Examples

duì
xià
shǔ
zǒng
shì
zhǐ
shǐ使
 
jiā
dōu
hěn
fǎn
gǎn
 

He is always bossing his subordinates around with an arrogant attitude, and everyone resents it.

Lǎo
bǎn
zhǐ
shǐ使
de
zuò
fēng
ràng
gōng
yuán
gōng
gǎn
dào
hěn
shū
fu
 

The boss's domineering style makes the company employees feel very uncomfortable.

zhàng
zhe
jiā
yǒu
qián
yǒu
shì
 
jiù
duì
yuán
zhǐ
shǐ使
 

Relying on his family's wealth and power, he orders the waiters around with an arrogant air.

Zài
xiàn
dài
guǎn
zhōng
 
zhǐ
shǐ使
de
guǎn
fāng
shì
jīng
xíng
tōng
le
 

In modern management, the high-handed approach of ordering people about no longer works.