glove

cat in gloves catches no mice

Prov. Sometimes you cannot get what you want by being careful and polite. Jill: I've hinted to Mary several times that I need her to pay me the money she owes, but she just ignores me. Jane: A cat in gloves catches no mice, Jill. Tell her bluntly that you need the money.

See also: cat, catch, mice

fit like a glove

Fig. to fit very well; to fit snugly. My new shoes fit like a glove. My new coat is a little tight. It fits like a glove.

See also: fit, like

gloves are off

Fig. There is going to be a serious dispute. (As if boxers had removed their gloves in order to inflict more damage. See also take the gloves off.) Bob got mad and yelled, "Ok, the gloves are off!" and started cussing and pounding the table.

hand in glove (with someone)

Fig. very close to someone. John is really hand in glove with Sally. The teacher and the principal work hand in glove.

See also: hand

handle someone with kid gloves

Fig. to be very careful with a touchy person. Bill has become so sensitive. You really have to handle him with kid gloves. You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I can take it.

See also: handle, kid

rule with a velvet glove

Fig. to rule in a very gentle way. She rules with a velvet glove, but she gets things done, nonetheless. He may appear to rule with a velvet glove, but he is really quite cruel.

See also: rule, velvet

take one's gloves off

Fig. to stop being calm or civil and show an intention of winning a dispute by any means. (As if boxers were to remove their gloves in order to inflict more damage. See also The gloves are off.) Both of them took their gloves off and really began arguing.

See also: take

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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: fist, iron, velvet

fit (somebody) like a glove

if a piece of clothing fits someone like a glove, it fits their body perfectly My new jeans contain Lycra so they fit like a glove.

See also: fit, like

hand in glove  (British, American & Australian) also hand and glove (American)

if one person or organization is working hand in glove with another, they are working together, often to do something dishonest It was rumoured at the time that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police.

See also: hand

handle/treat somebody with kid gloves

to be very polite or kind to someone who is important or easily upset because you do not want to make them angry or upset

Usage notes: Kid gloves are gloves made from very soft leather which would feel very soft if someone touched you with them.

Linda can be a very difficult woman - you've really got to handle her with kid gloves.

See also: handle, kid

the gloves are off  (informal)

if the gloves are off in an argument or competition, the people involved have started to argue or compete in a more determined or unpleasant way She gave a second interview later that year but this time the gloves were off. Her ex-boss, she said, was 'a tyrant and a fraud'.

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fit (you) like a glove

to be perfectly suited to you My wife bought me a custom-made fishing rod, and it fits like a glove.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of fit like a glove (to fit your body perfectly)

See also: fit, like

take the gloves off

to argue or compete without controlling your actions or feelings If they're willing to take their gloves off, US peanut producers could compete with anyone in the world.

Usage notes: also used in the form with the gloves off: In this fearless essay, she goes at some respected poets with the gloves off.

See also: take

treat somebody with kid gloves also handle somebody with kid gloves

to deal with someone very gently or carefully While he treated writers with kid gloves, he was unpleasant to everyone else.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of kid gloves (gloves made of very soft, smooth leather)

See also: kid, treat

work hand in glove with somebody/something

to do something in close combination with someone or something else The computer chips are designed to work hand in glove with this new microprocessor.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form go hand in glove (to be closely related): Researchers believe that mental well-being and physical strength go hand in glove.

See also: hand, work