IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishwith an iron fist
Meaning: With harsh, absolute control.
Example: “The old headmaster ran the school with an iron fist.”
Origin: Iron stands for hardness and force. The related phrase "an iron fist in a velvet glove," for harshness under a gentle manner, is often credited to Napoleon.
Equivalents in other languages
Russian: ежовые рукавицы (ezhovye rukavitsy) Literally: Hedgehog gloves
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