- under the thumb
- • under one's thumb• under the thumbobedient to someone, controlled by someone
He is only an assistant salesman but he has his boss under his thumb.
Digest 22/2002under someone's controlDon't ask Margie to make a change in our work schedule. Even though it is her responsibility, she won't do anything without Larry's permission. She's under Larry's thumb.
I feel sorry for those two young people. They will never be allowed to make their own decisions or lead their own lives. Their mother will always control them. They will always be under their mother's thumb.
Compare: tied to one's mother's apron strings.The expression suggests a dramatic difference between the person in control and the person who is controlled, the latter being so small or so weak as to be held down by a thumb.
Idioms and examples. 2014.