in the palm of (someone's) hand

in the palm of (someone's) hand

Under the direct control or influence of someone else. If you want to have someone in the palm of your hand, flattery always helps. Because of the debt he owes her, he'll always be 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 have him in the palm of her hand.

See also: hand, of, palm

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

in the palm of your hand

If you have someone in the palm of your hand, you can control them, and they like everything that you do. A quick look at the audience shows that she's got them in the palm of her hand. The girl clearly thought she already had him in the palm of her hand. Compare with have someone eating out of the palm of your hand.

See also: hand, of, palm

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012