have someone by the balls

Verb

 * 1)  To exercise total control over someone; to be in a position to threaten or extort someone.
 * 2) * November 13 2012, Socialitelife.com, ‘Dexter’ Recap: ‘Chemistry’
 * 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.
 * 1) * November 13 2012, Socialitelife.com, ‘Dexter’ Recap: ‘Chemistry’
 * 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.

Synonyms

 * See have someone by the short hairs § Synonyms

Translations

 * German: jemanden am Wickel haben, jemanden am Arsch haben
 * Spanish: tener a alguien por los huevos, tener a alguien por los cojones, coger por los huevos, tener agarrado por los cojones