have (got) someone by the short and curlies
US /hæv ɡɑt ˈsʌm.wʌn baɪ ðə ʃɔrt ænd ˈkɜr.liz/
UK /hæv ɡɑt ˈsʌm.wʌn baɪ ðə ʃɔrt ænd ˈkɜr.liz/

1.
menguasai seseorang sepenuhnya, memegang seseorang di bawah telunjuk
(informal, sometimes offensive) to have complete control over someone, especially by having an advantage over them or by knowing something about them that they want to keep secret
:
•
The company had him by the short and curlies after he signed that contract.
Syarikat itu menguasainya sepenuhnya selepas dia menandatangani kontrak itu.
•
She knew his secret, so she had him by the short and curlies.
Dia tahu rahsianya, jadi dia menguasainya sepenuhnya.