Redundant command as an affirmation of authority?

Question

I am fairly certain that there's an idiomatic phrase for this, referring to either the situation or the person. It's on the tip of my tongue.

Scenario: Alice tells Bob to stop making a such a noise with his power tools. Bob replies that he had already stopped an hour ago and was anyway done for the day.

How would you describe Alice, who instructed Bob to do something which he already did or was going to do? In other words, she gave him a redundant order that serves no purpose other than to reaffirm authority and stroke her own ego. Alternatively, she's making a show of strength by demanding that something that's already been done, be done.

It's similar in concept to the French phrase "faire la mouche du coche" but not quite. It's along the lines of gadfly, backseat driver, busybody, or tooting one's own horn.

EDIT: The closest matches so far are control freak and megalomaniac, but those still don't describe the post-facto aspect.

Danthrax · Accepted Answer

Alice is being officious.

Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters.

Lexico

Christian B · Answer

I would use the word nag

ex. "Stop nagging me about this, Alice" or "Alice is being such a nag"

Peter Point · Answer

Well, I can't think of an idiomatic phrase that rolls off the tip of the tongue but I'd still like to float the idea that Alice's behavior indicates that she is a "pettifogger of the first water".

pettifogger: (noun) One given to quibbling over trifles. (Merriam-Webster)

...of the first water (idiom) Used to refer to a person or thing that is unsurpassed of their kind, typically in an undesirable way. 'She was a bore of the first water.'  (Oxford Dictionary)

Mick · Answer

Hectoring, perhaps:

To talk and behave towards someone in a loud and unpleasantly forceful way, especially in order to get them to act or think as you want.

alwayslearning · Answer

In an attempt to reiterate her authority, or just to show who's the boss, Alice ended up beating a dead horse when she asked Bob to stop making noise with his tools (which he stopped using an hour earlier).
Wiktionary:

Verb
beat a dead horse
(idiomatic) To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest
or reason.
After having shown us three hours of instructional and
safety videos, the inspector was simply beating a dead horse by
telling us to buckle up as we got into the van.
Alternative forms:
flog a dead horse

Rivers McForge · Answer

Someone who takes pleasure in petty and unnecessary (and "redundant" implies unnecessary) displays of authority would colloquially be said to be throwing their weight around, power-tripping, or flexing their muscles.
Other terms and phrases that could describe such a person include imperious, lordly, high-handed, bossy, controlling, domineering, or if the emphasis is on the pettiness, they could be said to be micromanaging, backseat driving, or breathing down your neck. Of these, imperious, lordly, and high-handed are the ones that most imply the person is enjoying the exercise of power for its own sake.

Redundant command as an affirmation of authority?

6 Answers

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question