get one's claws into

verb

To have a controlling influence over.

“Once that bank gets its claws into you, it doesn't let go easily.”

Similar
get one's hooks into
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Meanings

verbget one's claws into (third-person singular simple present gets one's claws into, present participle getting one's claws into, simple past got one's claws into, past participle (UK) got one's claws into or (US) gotten one's claws into)

present singular third person gets one's claws into · participle present getting one's claws into · past got one's claws into · UK participle past got one's claws into · US participle past gotten one's claws into

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo have a controlling influence over.

    Once that bank gets its claws into you, it doesn't let go easily.

    Synonyms: get one's hooks into

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo have a controlling influence over.

Similar
get one's hooks into
Also see
get one's hooks into

Translations

Finnish iskeä kyntensä
  • iskeä kyntensäTranslations
French mettre le grappin sur
  • mettre le grappin surTranslations
German jemanden an der Leine haben
  • jemanden an der Leine habenTranslations
Indonesian mencengkeram
  • mencengkeramTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

get one's claws into. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20one's%20claws%20into

MLA

“get one's claws into.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20one's%20claws%20into. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “get one's claws into,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20one's%20claws%20into.

Source: get one's claws into on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.