by the short hairs
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]
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Nearby words
- by the day,
- by the dozen,
- by the numbers,
- by the same token,
- by the seat of the pants,
- by the skin of one's teeth,
- by the sweat of one's brow,
- by the way,
- by turns,
- by virtue of
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.