Wu Ting
What's the meaning of "in sb's back pocket"? Murph and I walked to Sterling and stood at parade rest. “All right, little man,” he said, “I want you to get in Bartle’s back pocket and I want you to stay there. Do you understand?” What's the meaning of "I want you to get in Bartle’s back pocket"? Does it mean Sterling wanted Murph to be under the control of "me"? Thanks!
2013년 2월 15일 오전 5:27
답변 · 1
Without more context, I can only guess. However, there is an idiom, "to be in somebody's (back) pocket." If you are in someone's (back) pocket," it means you are totally under their control. You are completely subservient to the other person. So my guess here is that Sterling told somone* that he should place himself under the complete control of Bertie ("get in Bertie's back pocket'), and remain under his control ("and I want you to stay there"). *The paragraph is not clear whom Sterling was telling to get in Bertie's back pocket. The "you" in "I want you" could refer to Murph, or to the unnamed person telling the story (the "I" in "Murph and I").
2013년 2월 15일
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