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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have the world by the tail en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To possess great influence and opportunity.
    • "You think you're set. You think everything's taken care of. I thought I had the world by the tail." 1992 September 24, Sara Rimer, “Company News: Hearing the Fears, With No Answers”, in New York Times, retrieved 07 Aug 2013:
    • No nation had the World by the tail this week, but the rear end of the British lion was within measurable distance of Adolf Hitler's grasp. 1938 February 28, “Give Us Colonies!!”, in Time, retrieved 07 Aug 2013:
    • "Webb thinks he's got the world by the tail for a downhill pull. I'll show him." 1919, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 15, in A Man Four-Square:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
having the world by the tail Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
have the world by the bag alternative lexicographic
have the world by the balls alternative lexicographic
have the world by the tail on a downhill pull alternative lexicographic
have the world by the nuts alternative lexicographic
have the world by the neck alternative lexicographic
have the world on a string alternative lexicographic
has the world by the tail Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
had the world by the tail Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had the world by the tail Tense=Past lexicographic
have the world by the testicles alternative lexicographic

Relateds

have someone by the short hairs