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Meaning & use

power trip

noun·Everydayinformaldisapproving

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UK/ˈpaʊə ˌtrɪp/
US/ˈpaʊɚ ˌtrɪp/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. nouncountableinformaldisapproving

    Behavior in which someone enjoys, and often misuses, authority they have over other people.

    Grammar: Usually after on: he's on a power trip.

    Patterns

    • be on a power trip
    • go on a power trip

    The new manager is on a power trip and checks everyone's break times.

    Giving detention for one late minute felt like a power trip.

    Once he became team captain, he went on a power trip.

  2. nounsingularinformal

    A feeling of excitement from controlling others.

    Grammar: Describes the pleasure of control: it was a power trip.

    Patterns

    • a bit of a power trip

    Directing a crowd of volunteers was a power trip for her.

    Telling everyone where to sit gave him a small power trip.

Word forms

pluralpower trips

Common combinations

be on a power trip
The substitute teacher was on a power trip all morning.
go on a power trip
He went on a power trip as soon as he got a title.
an ego and power trip
The meeting turned into an ego and power trip.
total power trip
The security guard's behavior was a total power trip.
accuse someone of a power trip
Staff accused the new boss of a power trip.

Synonyms and how they differ

ego trip
Ego trip focuses on someone being self-absorbed, while power trip focuses on controlling others.
abuse of power
Abuse of power is serious and formal, whereas power trip is casual and often mocking.
domineering
Domineering is an adjective for a bossy person, not a name for the act itself.
bossiness
Bossiness is milder and suggests a habit, not an enjoyment of authority.

Opposites

humility

Word family

power noun
the ability to control or influence
powerful adjective
having great control or strength
empower verb
to give someone more control or authority
trip noun
here, an extreme experience or state of mind

Commonly confused: power trip or ego trip?

power trip vs ego trip

An ego trip is about showing off or feeling important, but a power trip is about enjoying control over other people.

Practice

After getting promoted, Jake kept ordering everyone around just to show he was in charge. His coworkers said he was on a ____.

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