get the goods on

Idioms  

1. Also, have the goods on. Acquire or possess confidential information about someone, especially of a damaging or incriminating kind. For example, “Trouble is, they've got the goods on me” (Owen Johnson, The Lawrenceville Stories, 1909). [Slang; 1870s] Also see get on one.

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Example Sentences

The private investigator Howard hires to get the goods on Chuck's flim-flamming little brother is himself a con man, one who helps set up Howard so entirely in Cliff's and his first mediation meeting with Sandpiper's legal team that taking a settlement is the only choice they have.

From Salon

He is indignant that anyone would question the bureau’s motives for opening particular investigations, even while recalling how colleagues expressed their hope that he could get the goods on Clinton.

From Washington Post

This is how the Russians have operated for years -‑ they get the goods on people and then they can get you to do what they want.

From Salon

The Interrogation Room Detectives in Grand Rapids, Mich., try to get the goods on suspects in a home-invasion robbery that turned deadly in the debut installment of this true-crime series.

From Los Angeles Times

None of Moore's prior opponents, whether Democrat or Republican, were able to "get the goods" on Moore, even though his "thing for girls" was an open secret.

From New York Times