hold (someone) in the palm of (one's) hand

hold (someone) in the palm of (one's) hand

To have great influence over someone. If you want to hold someone in the palm of your hand, flattery always helps. Because of the debt he owes her, she'll always hold him in the palm of her hand. Our son has never acted like this before. I don't know why his obnoxious new friend seems to hold him in the palm of her hand.

See also: hand, hold, of, palm

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