hold sway over

hold sway over

Dominate, have a controlling influence over, as in He held sway over the entire department. This idiom uses the noun sway in the sense of “power” or “dominion,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.

Related Words for hold sway over overrule, persuade, impress, inspire, dominate, handle, lead, oversee, supervise, manage, rule, administer, command, govern, run, regulate, conduct, manipulate, control, overshadow