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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have the tiger by the tail en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.
    • "We have the tiger by the tail," Paul whispered. "We can't go down, can't land…and I don't think I can lift us out of this. We'll have to ride it out." 1965 October 1, Frank Herbert, “Book II: Muad’Dib”, in Dune, Philadelphia, Pa.: Chilton Book Company; [Toronto], Ont.: Thomas Nelson & Sons, →OCLC, page 225:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
had the tiger by the tail Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had the tiger by the tail Tense=Past lexicographic
having the tiger by the tail Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
have a tiger by the tail alternative lexicographic
has the tiger by the tail Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Synonyms

have the wolf by the ear