old battle-axe

(old) battle-ax(e)

A strong-willed, argumentative woman, typically older in age, who is considered overbearing or domineering. My grandmother was always the matriarch of the entire family, an old battle-axe who answered to no one but God. I gained a reputation of being a bit of a battle ax in the office because of how outspoken and unbending I am about certain issues. Good luck getting that old battle-axe to sign off on any drastic changes you want to make to the department.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

old battle-axe

a bossy old woman. She is such an old battle-axe. I'll bet she's hell to live with.

See also: old

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.