an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove
Definition
› used to describe someone who seems to be gentle but is in fact forceful and determinedSevereStrong-willed
(Definition of an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth) idiom
- an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove idiom
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an old/a wise head on young shoulders idiom
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-an suffix
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SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- austere adjective
- be heavy on sb idiom
- disciplinarian noun
- draconian adjective
- flaming adjective
- hard adjective (SEVERE)
- harsh adjective (UNKIND)
- not stand any nonsense idiom
- roundly adverb
- rule sth with an iron hand/fist idiom
- severe adjective (NOT KIND)
- severely adverb (NOT KINDLY)
- severity noun (NOT KIND)
- sharp adjective (ABLE TO CUT)
- stern adjective
- stiffly adverb (SEVERE)
- strict adjective
- strictly adverb
- strictness noun
- take a hard line on sb/sth idiom
Topic:
Severe
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