English

Verb

have someone by the balls

1. (idiomatic, vulgar) To exercise total control over someone.
   • November 13 2012, Socialitelife.com, ‘Dexter’ Recap: ‘Chemistry’

     Angel Batista immediately makes the connection that Quinn has been banging Nadia, a stripper working for Isaac’s people. Quinn adamantly denies that he would steal evidence and then storms into the strip club to demand that Nadia be set free. Unfortunately, they have him by the balls because they could kill Nadia at any moment and destroy Quinn’s police career once and for all if they revealed his tampering with evidence.

   • 2004, Mark A. Roeder, Someone is Watching page 138

     I feared what was to come. I was knuckling under to my blackmailer. It was a sure sign of weakness. If he didn't already, he'd know he had me by the balls as soon as he saw me wearing the shirt.

   • 1992, Ani DiFranco, I'm No Heroine

     You think I wouldn't have him
     Unless I could have him by the balls
     You think I just dish it out
     You don't think I take it at all

Synonyms

• have someone by the short and curlies
• have someone by the short hairs
• have someone over a barrel