have (someone) by the short and curlies

very informal, very informal

to have complete power over someone.

They've got us by the short and curlies. We have no choice but to agree.

• be like a bull in a china shop
• be like a cat on a hot tin roof
• be like a child in a sweetshop
• be like a deer caught in the headlights
• be like a dog with two tails
• be like a fish out of water
• be like a kid in a candy store
• be like a rabbit caught in the headlights
• be like a red rag to a bull
• be like a spare prick at a wedding
• be like chalk and cheese
• be like Fort Knox
• be like looking for a needle in a haystack
• be like painting the Forth Bridge
• be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic
• be like ships that pass in the night
• be like taking candy from a baby
• be like talking to a brick wall
• be like two peas in a pod
• be like watching grass grow
• be like watching paint dry
• be like water off a duck's back
• be living on another planet
• bells and whistles
• belly laugh