have someone by the short hairs

Verb

Meaning

have someone by the short hairs (third-person singular simple present has someone by the short hairs, present participle having someone by the short hairs, simple past and past participle had someone by the short hairs)

(idiomatic) To have someone in a difficult situation in which he or she is without alternatives and can be controlled.

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Synonyms

have someone by the short and curlies have someone by the balls have someone on toast have someone over a barrel

Close letter words and terms

have somebody in hysterics have someone by the balls have someone by the short and curlies have someone eating out of one's hand have someone following closely behind have someone going