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Glite Dictionary
to have someone by the balls

to have someone by the balls

3 9.9
To have complete power over someone by controlling what they need or fear
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : tener a alguien cogido por los huevos
  • The industry has him by the balls, and he is acquiescing at the jeopardy of the country and the planet!

Examples

  • The unions have the government by the balls and keep getting increases in firefighter numbers, pay, and conditions.

    Blog text (23)

  • The global elite don't care as long as they control the money supply, and since we let them, they have most of humanity by the balls.

    Blog text (22)

  • I do not think he will be willing to buy now, however, since it seems he has everyone by the balls.

    Blog text (13)

  • China only has the US by the balls for as long as the US people allow that illusion to continue.

    Blog text (23)

  • But that is where the planners have us by the balls.

    Blog text (18)

  • When another country has you by the balls, you're not independent.

    Blog text (11)

  • They had you by the balls in this town.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • They know they have you by the balls.

    Blog text (3)

  • The company knows that they have their employees by the balls due to their dependence on the benefits they provide.

  • The politician realized he had the voters by the balls after promising to fulfill their most pressing needs.

Synonyms

to dominate
vsto have someone by the balls
275 3.7

To have strong control over people or things

is specifically about control gained by holding something they need or fear
to take control
vsto have someone by the balls
227 3.5

Start to have power and make decisions about something

means total power by controlling a key need or fear, not merely starting rule
to overpower
vsto have someone by the balls
33 3.8

To use more strength to defeat and control a person or thing

focuses on control through holding needs or fears rather than physical force
to hold sway
vsto have someone by the balls
9 6.6

To have power over people or situations

focuses on absolute power through controlling needs or fears rather than general influence
to hold over
vsto have someone by the balls
3 7.2

To threaten someone with secret information to make them obey

uses possession of something they need or fear to gain total power
to wrap around one's little finger
vsto have someone by the balls
  • Informal
3 8.1

To make someone do what you want by charming them

relies on power from holding a need or fear, not just charm
to lead by the nose
vsto have someone by the balls
  • Informal
3 7.7

Make someone do what you want without them noticing

uses control by owning a crucial need or fear rather than subtle manipulation

Antonyms

powerless
138 3.6

Unable to do or stop something because you have no control

at the mercy of
  • Informal
41 4.4

Unable to control what happens because someone or something is in charge

How Powerful

to have someone by the balls
  • Offensive
3 9.9
to control
∞ 2.4
leverage
140 5.2
influence
430 3.4

Surface Forms

have someone by the balls infinitive
had someone by the balls past
had someone by the balls past participle
having someone by the balls present participle
has someone by the balls third person singular

Morphology

have + someone + by + the + ball

The meaning is a metaphorical extension of the literal image of holding someone's testicles: if a learner knows 'ball' as vulgar slang for testicle, they can plausibly infer physical dominance and thus power over someone. However, the expression is slangy, culturally marked and idiomatic rather than a regular compositional pattern, so the connection is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Have someone by the balls comes from a strong physical image: imagine holding a person's balls so they cannot move or act, and you can force them to do what you want. So, it means 'to have complete power over someone', especially by controlling something they need or fear.