to have someone under one's thumb, to have someone firmly in one's grip
Jemanden fest unter Kontrolle haben oder jemanden sehr gut im Griff haben.
To have someone under complete control or in one's grip.
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Der Chef scheint seine Mitarbeiter am Schlafittchen zu haben.— The boss seems to have his employees under his thumb.
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Keine Sorge, ich habe ihn am Schlafittchen.— Don't worry, I have him in my grip.