have somebody over a barrelFORCE somebody TO DO somethingto put someone in a situation in which they are forced to accept or do what you want 使某人处于被动[不利]的地位 The manager has us over a barrel – either we work on a Saturday or we lose our jobs. 经理迫使我们就范,要么星期六上班,要么丢掉工作。
have somebody over a barrel• The actor has the studio over a barrel - if they want to keep him, they have to pay him more money.• You have them over a barrel on this issue, with all the right on your side.
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