have (one) by the short and curlies

have (one) by the short and curlies

To have complete control or dominance over someone; to have someone at one's mercy. "The short and curlies" refers to the hairs on one's neck (not pubic hairs, despite popular misconceptions). With all that evidence against you, I'd say the police have you by the short and curlies. Sometimes, I think Mark's wife has him by the short and curlies.
See also: and, by, curly, have, short
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have someone by the short and curlies

or

have someone by the short hairs

BRITISH, INFORMAL, RUDE
If someone has you by the short and curlies or by the short hairs, they have you completely in their power. The union's chief negotiator last night said: `We had the company by the short and curlies.' The managers knew they had us by the short hairs. Note: In this expression, `short and curlies' may refer to a person's pubic hair, to hair on the back of their neck, or to the hair in their beard.
See also: and, by, curly, have, short, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • be replaced by (someone or something)
  • be replaced with (someone or something)
  • (from) top to toe
  • be on (one's) pat
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
  • at expense
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • at (one's) expense