to be the person in charge in a marriage or family.

She has the best-paid job and she also wears the pants in the family.

Usage notes: used to describe women, as in the example

Etymology: based on the idea that men are traditionally in control and wear trousers

• have someone by the balls
• have someone by the short and curlies
• have someone dead to rights
• have someone down on like a ton of bricks
• have someone down on you like a ton of bricks
• have someone in corner
• have someone in sights
• have someone in stitches
• have someone in the palm of hand
• have someone in the palm of your hand
• have someone in your corner
• have someone in your sights
• have someone on a short leash
• have someone on a string
• have someone on a tight leash
• have someone on hand
• have someone on hands
• have someone on the run
• have someone on your hands
• have someone over a barrel
• have someone pegged
• have someone rolling in the aisles
• have someone's ear
• have someone's name on it
• have someone's name written all over it