have a man by the balls
have (one) by the balls
vulgar slang To have complete control or dominance over one. The image is that of someone grasping one's testicles to subdue them. With all that evidence against you, I'd say the police have you by the balls. Sometimes, I think Mark's wife has him by the balls.
See also: ball, by, have
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have a man by the balls
tv. to have a man in a position where he has little choice but to do what one says. (Usually objectionable.) She’s really got him by the balls. He will go along with whatever she wants.
See also: ball, by, have, man
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- have (one) by the balls
- have someone by the balls
- cojones
- the/(one's) junk
- have (one's) hands on (something)
- break (one's) stones
- bust (one's) stones
- wrestle with
- wrestle with (someone or something)
- have by