have (someone) under (one's) thumb
have (someone) under (one's) thumb
To maintain authoritarian control over someone; to continually force someone to submit to one's will. They seem happy when they're out and about, but I hear that Johnny has his husband completely under his thumb when they're at home. Although the job was well paying, I couldn't stand the way the boss had me under his thumb.
See also: have, thumb
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- attend to
- accompany (one) on a/(one's) journey
- accompany on a journey
- a stranger to (someone or something)
- be out of (one's) league
- be out of somebody's league
- be in bad with (someone)
- a happy bunny
- a happy camper
- (one) puts (one's) pants on one leg at a time