- have someone over a barrel
- have someone over a barrelTo be in a position to get whatever one wants from someone• • •Main Entry: ↑barrel
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
have someone over a barrel
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have someone over a barrel — have (someone) over a barrel to put someone in a very difficult situation in which they have no choice about what to do. She knows I need the work, so she s got me over a barrel in terms of what she pays me … New idioms dictionary
over a barrel — also[over the barrel] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In the power of your enemies; not able to do anything about what happens to you; in a helpless condition; trapped. * /Bill had Tom over a barrel because Tom owed him money./ * /Ralph has me over a… … Dictionary of American idioms
over a barrel — also[over the barrel] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In the power of your enemies; not able to do anything about what happens to you; in a helpless condition; trapped. * /Bill had Tom over a barrel because Tom owed him money./ * /Ralph has me over a… … Dictionary of American idioms
have over a barrel — have (someone) over a barrel to put someone in a very difficult situation in which they have no choice about what to do. She knows I need the work, so she s got me over a barrel in terms of what she pays me … New idioms dictionary
have someone by the short and curlies — (vulgar slang) To have someone over a barrel, at one s mercy, in a position difficult to wriggle out of • • • Main Entry: ↑short … Useful english dictionary
have someone by the short hairs — verb To have someone in a difficult situation in which he or she is without alternatives and can be controlled. The Saudis know that as long as we consume 7 billion barrels per year (4 billion of them imported from abroad), they have us by the… … Wiktionary
have someone in one's power — have someone under one s power I doubt that Roger will ever have Etta under his power Syn: have control over, have influence over, have under one s thumb, have at one s mercy, have in one s clutches, have in the palm of one s hand, have someone… … Thesaurus of popular words
over a barrel — If someone has you over a barrel, they have you in a position where you have no choice but to accept what they want … The small dictionary of idiomes
have someone in/under one's power — HAVE CONTROL OVER, have influence over, have under one s thumb, have at one s mercy, have in one s clutches, have in the palm of one s hand; N. Amer. have in one s hip pocket; informal have over a barrel. → power … Useful english dictionary
over a barrel — adverb : at the mercy of one s opponents : in a helpless condition had him over a barrel * * * over a barrel informal phrase if someone has you over a barrel, they know that you are in a difficult situation and that you will have to do what they… … Useful english dictionary
