wrap around one's little finger

English

Alternative forms

• wrap around one's finger
• twist around one's little finger
• wind around one's little finger

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

wrap around one's little finger (third-person singular simple present wraps around one's little finger, present participle wrapping around one's little finger, simple past and past participle wrapped around one's little finger)

1. (transitive, figuratively) To successfully control or exert influence over, especially for a sustained period of time.

   He has all of them wrapped around his little finger. They'd do anything for him.

Usage notes

• Usually in past participle form.

Synonyms

• play someone like a violin

Translations

to successfully control or influence

• Arabic: please add this translation if you can
• Armenian: մատի վրա խաղացնել (mati vra xałacʿnel)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: omotat si kolem prstu
• Dutch: om zijn/haar vinger winden
• Finnish: kietoa pikkusormensa ympärille
• French: mener quelqu'un par le bout du nez (fr)
• German: um den Finger wickeln, um den kleinen Finger wickeln
• Hindi: please add this translation if you can

• Hungarian: ujja köré csavar (hu), kisujja köré csavar
• Italian: please add this translation if you can
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Korean: please add this translation if you can
• Polish: owinąć sobie kogoś wokół palca
• Portuguese: encoleirar
• Russian: вить верёвки (vitʹ verjóvki) (weave ropes [from someone])
• Spanish: tener a alguien comiendo de la mano
• Swedish: linda runt sitt finger, linda kring sitt finger
• Vietnamese: please add this translation if you can

See also

• under one's thumb
• putty in someone's hands
• eat out of someone's hand