under (one's) thumb
Under another's authoritarian control; continually forced to submit to another's will. They seem happy when they're out and about, but I hear that Johnny is under his husband's thumb at home. Although the job paid well, I couldn't stand the way I was under the boss's thumb.
under somebody’s ˈthumb
(informal) completely controlled or influenced by another person: Now that they’re married, she’s completely under his thumb and never sees her old friends.