say the word

English

Verb

say the word (third-person singular simple present says the word, present participle saying the word, simple past and past participle said the word)

1. (idiomatic) To indicate that it is time to perform an action; to give permission.
   • 1895, Thomas Hardy, chapter 3, in Jude the Obscure:

     "I wish—When shall we have courage to marry, Jude?"
     "Whenever you have it, I think I shall. It remains with you entirely, dear. Only say the word, and it's done."

   • 1921, Edgar Wallace, chapter 6, in The Black:

     "A primitive fellow. I'll kick him out if you say the word, my dear."

   • 2003 May 31, Brian Glanville, “Trevor Ford: Welsh soccer star who gave and took hard knocks”, in Guardian‎^[1], retrieved August 29, 2020:

     "[I]f there's anything I can do to help you make the grade, just say the word."

   • 2017 December 9, Tyler Kepner, “The Yankees Will Always Be the Yankees, to the Delight of Only Some”, in New York Times‎^[2], retrieved August 29, 2020:

     "What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down."