in (one's) hip pocket

Under one's control or influence, especially in an underhanded or unethical way, such as by bribery or extortion. It's pretty obvious that our national legislators are all in corporate bigwigs' hip pockets! I hear that the boss has half the police force in his hip pocket. A: "What exactly are you suggesting? That I'm in the mob's hip pocket?" B: "Well, it just strikes me as odd that you're no longer going to testify against them."

in someone's hip pocket

completely under someone's control. North American