He has always been bossy and overbearing, never polite to his subordinates.
Tips
history
This idiom describes the manners of powerful nobles in ancient China who considered it beneath their dignity to speak to servants directly - they would simply gesture with their chin (颐) or shift their breath/bearing (气使) to issue commands.
memory
颐 = chin/jaw, 指 = point/direct, 气 = air/bearing, 使 = make/command. Literally: 'chin-pointing, breath-commanding' - so arrogant they don't even open their mouth to give orders.
