have someone by the short hairs
To have someone in a difficult situation in which he or she is without alternatives and can be controlled.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The bank has him by the short hairs because of his debt.”
“Because she holds all the evidence, she has the manager by the short hairs and can demand whatever she wants.”
“By controlling the supply chain, the corporation effectively had its competitors by the short hairs, leaving them no choice but to accept the unfavorable contract terms.”
- 01
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 02
a short drop and a sudden stop
A fall to one's death by hanging.
- 03
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 04
bad hair day
A day when things seem to be unmanageable or go wrong.
- 05
barnet
[Cockney slang]hair
- 06
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 07
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 08
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
Last updated August 10, 2026