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3. have (someone) under (one's) thumb

have (someone) under (one's) thumb

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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