Caught by the short and curlies

I think the common U.S. equivalent is something like: "He had me by the short hairs."

Smokey - where are you from? This is the second email I've seen from you where you quote something and the other readers are only familiar with a different version. Yet, I'm familiar with your version. The previous example of that I read was when you asked about 'might as well be hung for a sheep as a goat'.

I grew up with the 'short and curlies' version too. Are you Australian? Just curious to note the different dialects here.