expression, godan verb (-ru)
act highhandedly; be arrogant; be overbearing
Describes someone acting in a domineering or arrogant manner, often taking advantage of a position or situation. The expression is a set phrase.
彼は上司になった途端、かさにかかって命令するようになった。
As soon as he became the boss, he started giving orders in a highhanded way.
That politician ignored the questions with an arrogant attitude.
威張る means 'to be bossy' or 'to throw one's weight around'; かさにかかる is a more idiomatic and emphatic expression for acting overbearingly.
Kanji spelling using 嵩 (bulk, volume); rarely used in modern writing.
Variant with 懸かる; very rare.
Irregular kanji usage with 笠 (bamboo hat); not standard.
Irregular kanji usage with 笠 and 懸かる; not standard.
The phrase likely derives from 嵩 (かさ, bulk, volume) and かかる (to lean on, to depend on), suggesting the idea of 'relying on one's bulk or status' to act arrogantly. The exact origin is uncertain.