If desired, the Top can even instruct the submissive partner to exercise temporary control.

"But it's actually the reverse: the more submissive partner has to attend more to the dominant one."

In contrast, a dominant top controls their submissive bottom partner, sometimes by using physical or psychological techniques, although consent is always established first.

Teresa's art lies in finding an appropriate but submissive partner for the fish she serves.

A safe word is usually given to the submissive partner to prevent the dominant from overstepping physical and emotional boundaries.

It can be much like a wedding band, except that only the submissive partner wears one.

In this fashion, a dominant partner may ask the submissive partner "What is your color?"

It might also be used by the submissive partner as an honorific term in a D/s relationship.

In another, she used the slang term for a submissive partner in a sadomasochistic relationship to describe herself.