right-hand man
Meaning: Someone's most trusted and useful helper.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The chef's right-hand man runs the kitchen on Mondays.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The right hand is the stronger for most people, and the place of honor beside a ruler. In 17th-century cavalry, the "right-hand man" held a position of responsibility in the line.
Equivalents in other languages
- Urdu: ناک کا بال (nāk kā bāl) — literally: The hair of the nose
More idioms — Body & Senses
- have a big mouth — To talk too much, especially about things that should be kept secret.
- a bundle of nerves — A very anxious or nervous person.
- light-fingered — Tending to steal.
- Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
- Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
- Couper les cheveux en quatre — To over-analyze or split hairs.
More English idioms
- use a sledgehammer to crack a nut — To use far more force than a small problem needs.
- a monkey's wedding — A sunshower, when rain falls while the sun shines.
- off one's trolley — Crazy or foolish.
- as scarce as hen's teeth — Extremely rare.
- half a loaf is better than none — Getting part of what you want is better than getting nothing.
- an army marches on its stomach — People cannot work well without food.
From our untranslatable words
- Madrugada — The liminal hours between midnight and sunrise — that strange, quiet time when the night…
- Duende — A mysterious quality in art or performance that moves you to your core — a dark, soulful,…
- Querencia — A place where you feel safe, grounded, and most fully yourself — a sanctuary from which y…