under thumb
under (one's) thumb
Under another's authoritarian control; continually forced to submit to another's will. They seem happy when they're out and about, but I hear that Johnny is under his husband's thumb at home. Although the job paid well, I couldn't stand the way I was under the boss's thumb.
See also: thumb
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*under someone's thumb
Fig. under someone's control and management. (*Typically: get someone ~; have someone ~; hold someone ~; keep someone ~.) You can't keep your kids under your thumb all their lives. I don't want to have these people under my thumb. I'm not the manager type.
See also: thumb
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
under (someone's) thumb
Under the control of someone; subordinate to.
See also: thumb
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- under (one's) thumb
- under somebody's thumb
- under someone’s thumb
- under someone's thumb
- under the thumb of (someone)
- take (someone) at his/her word, to
- get on like a house afire
- get on like a house on fire
- what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine
- glee