get the goods on someone

get the goods on (someone)

To obtain scandalous, incriminating, or otherwise damaging evidence or information about someone. We know he's guilty, but we can't arrest him until we get the goods on him. How did federal authorities finally get the goods on that shady CEO? The public got the goods on the government's illegal operations through that explosive report.

See also: get, good, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get (or have) the goods on someone

obtain (or possess) information about a person which may be used to their detriment. informal

See also: get, good, on, someone

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

get the goods on someone

tv. to uncover incriminating evidence against someone. The IRS tried to get the goods on Rocko, but Rocko knows all the angles.

See also: get, good, on, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.