Advertisement

Advertisement

by the short hairs



Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Under one's complete control. This expression is often used with get or have , as in She had her husband by the short hairs . It is in effect a euphemism for have someone by the balls , the hairs in question being pubic hair. [ Colloquial ; second half of 1800s]

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


by the seat of the pantsby the skin of one's teeth