Jen: Growing up, my younger sister used to boss me around.
Jason: What? Your younger sister used to boss you around? But she is younger than you.
Jen: I know, but she loved doing that.

본문에서 제가 “Growing up, my younger sister used to boss me around. 어렸을 때 내 여동생은 나한테 이것저것 시켰어.”라고 하자 Jason이 웃으면서 “What? 뭐라고? Your younger sister used to boss you around? 네 여동생이 네게 이래라저래라 했다고? But she is younger than you. 걔는 너보다 어리잖아.”라고 하네요.

이어 제가 “I know, but she loved doing that. 알아, 그런데 그렇게 하는 걸 좋아했어.”라고 답했습니다. Now keep today’s expression ‘to boss someone around’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jen: Growing up, my younger sister used to boss me around.
Jason: What? Your younger sister used to boss you around? But she is younger than you.
Jen: I know, but she loved doing that.

Today’s expression is boss someone around. If you boss someone around it means that you keep telling someone what to do especially when you have no authority to do so. It basically means to give orders to someone in an unpleasant or forceful way.

Boss someone around는 ‘사장처럼 사람을 부리다.’, ‘쥐고 흔들다.’라는 뜻입니다. 쉽게 말해서 지시할 권한도 없으면서 누군가에게 이래라저래라 하다. 라는 뜻입니다. 듣는 사람이 기분 나쁘게 뭔가를 강제로 시키는 걸 말하는 거죠.

On the other hand, if you tell someone, “Don’t boss me around,” it means that you don’t want to be told what to do. 또, “Don’t boss me around” 라고 하면 “나한테 이래라저래라 말 하지 마.” 라는 뜻입니다.

오늘 본문에서 제가 자랄 때 여동생이 제게 이래라저래라 했다고 했죠. 마치 윗사람처럼 말이죠. “Growing up, my younger sister used to boss me around.”라고요.

그럼 예문을 통해 오늘 표현에 대해 더 자세히 알아보겠습니다. “Stop bossing me around. ”라고 하면 “나한테 아무 지시도 하지마.” 라는 뜻이 됩니다. Here is another example. “It’s not a good idea to boss your colleagues around at work unless you are his or her boss.”라고 하면 “직장에서 상사도 아니면서 다른 직원들에게 이래라저래라 해서는 안 돼.”라는 뜻이 됩니다.

오늘 표현 잘 기억하시고요. 오늘의 대화를 마지막으로 들어보겠습니다. Now that you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jen: Growing up, my younger sister used to boss me around.
Jason: What? Your younger sister used to boss you around? But she is younger than you.
Jen: I know, but she loved doing that.

Let’s review. If you boss someone around it means that you keep telling someone what to do in an unpleasant or forceful way. TO BOSS SOMEONE AROUND. Now try using this expression on your own.