iron hand
noun
strict or harsh control: The general governed the country with an iron hand.
Origin of iron hand
First recorded in 1840–50
Words nearby iron hand
iron gate,
iron glance,
iron gray,
iron grey,
iron guard,
iron hand,
iron horse,
iron law of wages,
iron lung,
iron maiden,
iron man
British Dictionary definitions for iron hand
iron hand
noun
harsh or rigorous control; overbearing or autocratic force
he ruled with an iron hand
Idioms and Phrases with iron hand
iron hand
Rigorous control, as in He ruled the company with an iron hand. This usage is sometimes put as iron hand in a velvet glove, meaning “firm but seemingly gentle control,” as in She runs the town with an iron hand in a velvet glove. [c. 1700]