by the tail
Synonyms
Examples
I wanted for the moments in my life to follow each other and order themselves like those of a life remembered. It would be just as well to try to catch time by the tail.
A person who has a cat by the tail knows a whole lot more about cats than someone who has just read about them.
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
Who takes an eel by the tail and a woman at her word, may say he holds nothing.
If you pull one pig by the tail all the rest squeak.
Who takes an eel by the tail or a woman by her word, grasp as he will, holds nothing fast.