have someone by the short and curlies

اصطلاح، انگلیسی بریتانیایی، خیلی غیر رسمی
داشتن کنترل یا تسلط کامل بر کسی
She had him by the short and curlies when she threatened to expose his affair.
The bank has got us by the short and curlies. We can’t afford to miss a payment.
He thought he could get away with anything, but his boss had him by the short and curlies.