fist

*tight as a drum 

1. stretched tight. (*Also: as ~.) Julia stretched the upholstery fabric over the seat of the chair until it was as tight as a drum. The skin on his scalp is tight as a drum.

2. sealed tight. (*Also: as ~.) Now that I've caulked all the windows, the house should be tight as a drum. Your butterfly died because the jar is as tight as a drum.

3. and *tight as Midas's fist very stingy. (*Also: as ~.) He won't contribute a cent. He's as tight as a drum. Old Mr. Robinson is tight as Midas's fist. Won't spend money on anything.

See also: drum, tight

hand over fist

Fig. [for money and merchandise to be exchanged] very rapidly. What a busy day. We took in money hand over fist. They were buying things hand over fist.

See also: hand

rule with an iron fist

Fig. to rule in a very stern manner. The dictator ruled with an iron fist and terrified the citizens. My boss rules with an iron fist. I'm looking for a new job.

See also: iron, rule

two-fisted

Fig. [of a male] aggressive and feisty. Perry is a real, two-fisted cowboy, always ready for a fight or a drunken brawl.

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an iron fist/hand in a velvet glove

something that you say when you are describing someone who seems to be gentle but is in fact severe and firm To enforce each new law the president uses persuasion first, and then force - the iron hand in the velvet glove.

See also: glove, iron, velvet

ham-fisted  (British) also ham-handed (American)

1. lacking skill with the hands I hoped you weren't watching my ham-fisted attempts to get the cake out of the tin.

2. lacking skill in the way that you deal with people The report criticizes the ham-fisted way in which complaints are dealt with.

hand over fist

if you make or lose money hand over fist, you make or lose large amounts of it very quickly Business was good and we were making money hand over fist.

See also: hand

make a good fist of something/doing something   (British & Australian old-fashioned)

to do something well He made a good fist of explaining why we need to improve our public transport system. He built the house himself and made a surprisingly good fist of it. (British & Australian old-fashioned)

See also: good, make

rule (somebody) with a rod of iron  (British, American & Australian) also rule (somebody) with an iron fist/hand (American & Australian)

to control a group of people very firmly, having complete power over everything that they do For 17 years she ruled the country with a rod of iron. My uncle rules the family business with an iron hand.

See also: iron, rod, rule

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hand over fist

quickly and continuously A few years ago, those people made money hand over fist. Developers are putting up cheap new houses hand over fist in our town.

See also: hand