- Home
- Idioms
- have (someone or something) by the tail
have (someone or something) by the tail
have (someone or something) by the tail
To be in complete control of someone or something; to be in a situation in which one's success is likely. Primarily heard in US. Any time my little brother wants to tattle on me, I just threaten to tell mom about the vase he broke—I've sure got him by the tail now! I can't wait to get my grades back—I studied so hard that I had my exams by the tail!
Common Names:
Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
Ayesha | | - | Arabic, Urdu |
Piedad | | pye-DHAHD | Spanish |
Gordon | | ['gɔ:dn] | |
Suzanne | | soo-ZAHN (French), soo-ZAN (English), suy-ZAHN-nə (Dutch) | French, English, Dutch |
Gitta | | GI-tah | German |
MihÁLy | | MEE-hie | Hungarian |