have the world by the tail

English

Alternative forms

• have the world by the bag (vulgar), have the world by the balls (vulgar), have the world by the neck, have the world by the nuts (vulgar), have the world by the testicles, have the world on a string, have the world by the tail on a downhill pull

Pronunciation

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Verb

have the world by the tail (third-person singular simple present has the world by the tail, present participle having the world by the tail, simple past and past participle had the world by the tail)

1. (idiomatic) To possess great influence and opportunity.
   • 1919, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 15, in A Man Four-Square:

     "Webb thinks he's got the world by the tail for a downhill pull. I'll show him."

   • 1938 February 28, “Give Us Colonies!!”, in Time, retrieved 7 August 2013:

     No nation had the World by the tail this week, but the rear end of the British lion was within measurable distance of Adolf Hitler's grasp.

   • 1992 September 24, Sara Rimer, “Company News: Hearing the Fears, With No Answers”, in New York Times, retrieved 7 August 2013:

     "You think you're set. You think everything's taken care of. I thought I had the world by the tail."

Usage notes

• Also appears in such similar phrases as grab the world by the tail, got the world by the tail.
• Often used in describing a situation in which a person possesses great, and perhaps excessive, self-confidence.

See also

• have someone by the short hairs