glove (redirected from with the gloves off)

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, hand, iron

fit (someone) 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

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'.

hand in glove (British, American & Australian, 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 someone 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. Linda can be a very difficult woman - you've really got to handle her with kid gloves.

See also: handle, kid, treat

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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

handle someone with kid gloves

treat someone with kid gloves

See also: handle, kid

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 someone 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 someone/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