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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have someone by the balls en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, slang, vulgar) To exercise total control over someone; to be in a position to threaten or extort someone.
    • Angel Batista immediately makes the connection that Quinn has been banging Nadia, a stripper working for Isaac’s people. Quinn adamantly denies that he would steal evidence and then storms into the strip club to demand that Nadia be set free. Unfortunately, they have him by the balls because they could kill Nadia at any moment and destroy Quinn’s police career once and for all if they revealed his tampering with evidence. November 13 2012, Socialitelife.com, ‘Dexter’ Recap: ‘Chemistry’https://web.archive.org/web/20151229215607/http://www.socialitelife.com/dexter-recap-chemistry-11-2012
    • You think I wouldn't have him Unless I could have him by the balls You think I just dish it out You don't think I take it at all 1992, Ani DiFranco, I'm No Heroine:
    • I feared what was to come. I was knuckling under to my blackmailer. It was a sure sign of weakness. If he didn't already, he'd know he had me by the balls as soon as he saw me wearing the shirt. 2004, Mark A. Roeder, Someone is Watching, page 138:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
had someone by the balls Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had someone by the balls Tense=Past lexicographic
has someone by the balls Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
having someone by the balls Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms

Translations (12)

pl mieć w ręce (to exercise total control over someone) · pl trzymać w garści (to exercise total control over someone) · es tener a alguien por los huevos (to exercise total control over someone) · es tener a alguien por los cojones (to exercise total control over someone) · de jemanden am Arsch haben (to exercise total control over someone) · pl mieć w ręku (to exercise total control over someone) · de jemanden am Wickel haben (to exercise total control over someone) · es tener agarrado por los cojones (to exercise total control over someone) · pl trzymać krótko (to exercise total control over someone) · es coger por los huevos (to exercise total control over someone) · pl mieć w garści (to exercise total control over someone) · pl trzymać w szachu (to exercise total control over someone)