| With
a heavy hand |
Dealing with or treating people with a heavy hand
means acting with
discipline and severity, with little or no
sensitivity.
"He ran the juvenile delinquent centre with a heavy hand." |
The
left hand doesn't know what
the right hand is doing |
This expression means that communication
within a group or
organization is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing. |
|
The upper hand |
If a person or organization gains or gets
the upper hand,
they take control over something. |
|
The devil makes work for idle hands |
This expression means that people who do not have enough to do
are often tempted to do something wrong.
"It's not good for kids to have nothing to do at the week-end -
the devil makes work for idle hands!" |
|
Have your hands
full |
If you have your hands full, you
are very busy or you have a lot to do. |
|
In
safe (good)
hands
|
If
something is in safe
(or good) hands, it is being looked after by
a reliable person or organization, and is therefore at no risk.
"I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be
in
safe hands. |
|
Play into someone's
hands |
If you play into someone's hands, you do exactly what your opponent
or
enemy wants you to do, so that they gain an advantage over you.
"When the leaders of the protest movement became violent,
they played right into the hands of the police." |
|
A
show of hands |
A show of hands is a method of
voting in which people give their opinion
by raising a hand.
"How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?" |
|
Wash your hands of something |
To wash your hands of a problem or
situation means that you refuse
to deal with it any longer. |
|
Grease somebody's palm |
If you accuse someone of
greasing somebody's palm, you are
accusing them of giving money to someone in order to gain an unfair
advantage, or to obtain something they want.
"In some countries, it is common practice to grease government
officials'
palms." |