What is crack the whip meaning?

Crack the whip is an idiom that originated in the 1920s and refers to exerting control or authority over others. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone is directing or leading a group of people with forceful and commanding behavior, often to the point of being intimidating. The phrase comes from the act of cracking a real whip, which was once used to control horses or other animals. Figuratively, it is used to describe situations where a person or group is wielding power over others for their own benefit, possibly resulting in unfair treatment or abuse of power.