get by the balls
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To have complete control over someone, especially of a woman abusing a man's infatuation with her.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Too bad she's got you by the balls.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “get by the balls” mean?
To have complete control over someone, especially of a woman abusing a man's infatuation with her.
Is “get by the balls” formal or informal?
get by the balls is generally slang, vulgar.