bring smb. to heel

(или to his knees)

   пocтaвить кoгo-л. нa кoлeни, уcмиpить кoгo-л., зacтaвить кoгo-л. пoкopитьcя, пoвинoвaтьcя; cпpaвитьcя, упpaвитьcя c кeм-л., унять кoгo-л.

    But to attack now would upset his whole plan: he must wait. After a while he would bring all his enemies to heel (F. Hardy). 'What I want to see is a universal strike of women. They could bring all the governments of the world to their knees, in a year...' (H. Aldington)