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power trip

American  

noun

Slang.

  1. an act or instance of exerting one's power, authority, or influence.

    a new supervisor on a power trip.

Etymology

Origin of power trip

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The armorer in the calls referred to jurors in her criminal case as “idiots,” and said that Sommer was on a "power trip."

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2024

They wanted to show that religion-based polygamy didn’t have to be some patriarchal power trip.

From Washington Post • Jan. 6, 2023

It hasn’t been one long power trip for Pujols, an 11-time All-Star.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2022

“It’s about time we bring this power trip in for a landing.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 22, 2020

People who play the power trip in inappropriate situations tend to get laughed at when they leave the room.

From New York Times • Aug. 7, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.