"Were in charge" is an idiomatic expression that refers to the active or dominant position of authority and responsibility over a particular situation, organization, group, or task. It indicates that a person or a group of persons held a position of leadership, control, or management over a specific area or circumstance.
In this context, "were" functions as the past tense of the verb "to be," emphasizing that at a given time in the past, an individual or a collective was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and directing the actions and decisions related to a particular matter.
The phrase "in charge" suggests that those individuals or entities had the power to make decisions, enforce rules, give directions, and bear the consequences of their actions. It implies a formal position or an official role with the authority to supervise, guide, or make decisions on behalf of others.
When someone or a group of people states that they "were in charge," they assert that they assumed the leadership or managerial role, taking control and making crucial and influential decisions that affected the outcome or direction of the matter in question.
Overall, the phrase "were in charge" illustrates the temporary or long-term authority, responsibility, and power conferred upon individuals or groups to direct, manage, and control a specific domain of activity or a given situation.
