fist (redirected from fistfuls)

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, hand, iron

ham-fisted (British, 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.

(British, American)

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, over

make a bad/poor fist of something/doing something (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

make a good fist of something/doing something - to do something well. Our lawyer made a poor fist of advising us.

See also: bad, poor

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.

See also: good

rule (someone) with a rod of iron (British, American & Australian, 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, over