- by the short hairs
- by the short hairs or (informal) by the short and curliesIn a powerless position, at someone's mercy• • •Main Entry: ↑hair
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
by the short hairs
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by the short hairs — See got you by the short hairs … English idioms
have someone by the short hairs — tv. to ave someone in an awkward position; to have dominated someone. (This refers to the shorter pubic hairs. Sometime euphemized to neck hairs.) □ They’ve got me by the short hairs. There’s nothing I can do … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
get someone by the short hairs — get (or have) someone by the short hairs (or Brit. short and curlies) informal have complete control of a person Origin: from military slang, referring to pubic hair … 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
got you by the short hairs — has a painful hold on you, has an advantage, gotcha What can I do about a bad credit rating? Not much. They ve got you by the short hairs … English idioms
short hairs — the pubic hair Even though they may be more luxuriant than those on other parts of the body. The use is almost always in the figurative cliché: I think I ve got them by the short hairs. (Sharpe, 1974) The short and curlies is… … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
by the short hairs, have one — Have one at a disadvantage. Also have one by the short and curlies … A concise dictionary of English slang
short hairs — n pl the pubic hair(s). A euphemism in use since the 19th century. It is most often heard figuratively in phrases such as they ve got us by the short hairs (i.e. at their mercy, rendered helpless) … Contemporary slang
short hairs — /ʃɔt ˈhɛəz/ (say shawt hairz) Colloquial –plural noun 1. pubic hair. –phrase 2. have by the short hairs, to have at one s mercy. Also, short and curlies …
short hairs — noun Pubic hair. See Also: have someone by the short hairs … Wiktionary
