call one’s shots—
1. tell in advance the result of a game, etc.:
- Nothing ever happens as John says it will. He is very poor at calling his shots.
2. announce what one is about to do; reveal one’s plans, etc. beforehand:
- You can hardly expect so adroit a politician to call his shots.
call the shots—(also: call all the shots) be in charge; decide on the course of action:
- Tom is a first-rate leader who knows how to call the shots.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase call shotgun—(coll.) claim the seat beside the driver in an automobile:
- If someone has successfully called shotgun, this gives them no right whatsoever to correct the driver on their navigation skills.