fist
A hand that is closed tightly, with the fingers bent into the palm, often to hit or to show strong feeling.
A hand with the fingers bent tightly into the palm, usually as a sign of anger, determination, or readiness to hit.
A hit you give someone or something with your closed hand.
A blow or hit delivered with a clenched hand.
To put your hand or fist inside someone's vagina or anus for sex. This is a strong and vulgar word.
To insert the hand or fist into a partner's vagina or anus as a form of sexual activity.
The way a person writes by hand; their handwriting style. This use is old-fashioned.
A person's style of handwriting, especially its overall look or quality.
- Base: fist
- Plural: fists
clench your fist
1Close your hand tightly into a fist
To close your hand very tightly so it becomes a hard fist, often because you are angry, afraid, or in pain.
- She clenched her fist in anger but said nothing.
- He clenched his fist around the metal bar until his knuckles went white.
hand over fist
1Very quickly and in large amounts
To gain or lose something, especially money, very fast and in large amounts.
- The company is making money hand over fist.
- During the crisis, some investors were losing cash hand over fist.
make a fist
1Form your hand into a fist
To close your hand so that your fingers bend into your palm and your hand becomes a fist.
- The doctor told him to make a fist so she could check his pulse.
- When he heard the news, he made a fist without even noticing.
make a good fist of something
1Do something fairly well
To do something quite well, especially when it is not easy or you are new to it. (mainly British English)
- For a beginner, she made a good fist of the presentation.
- He made a good fist of running the shop while his parents were away.
make a poor fist of something
1Do something badly
To do something badly or unsuccessfully.
- They made a poor fist of the marketing campaign and sales dropped.
- He made a poor fist of answering the reporter's questions.
put up your fists
1Raise fists, get ready to fight
To lift your closed hands in front of you, ready to hit someone in a fight.
- He told his opponent to put up his fists and stop talking.
- The boys put up their fists, but a teacher stepped in before they could fight.
raise your fist
1Lift a clenched hand in the air
To hold your closed hand up in the air, often to show protest, support, or victory.
- The crowd raised their fists in solidarity.
- He raised his fist in celebration when the final goal was scored.
shake your fist at someone
1Wave a clenched fist angrily
To move your closed hand up and down or back and forth toward someone because you are angry with them.
- The old man shook his fist at the noisy teenagers.
- Drivers leaned out of their windows and shook their fists at the bus.
with an iron fist
1In a very harsh, strict way
In a very hard and strict way that does not allow freedom or kindness.
- The company was run with an iron fist for decades.
- He ruled his household with an iron fist, and no one dared argue with him.
an iron fist in a velvet glove
1harsh power hidden by gentleness
To control people in a very strict or harsh way but to hide this behind a polite, kind, or gentle manner.
- The new CEO rules with an iron fist in a velvet glove, smiling as she makes tough cuts.
- The governor’s style was an iron fist in a velvet glove—polite in public, but very firm in private.
- Parents sometimes need an iron fist in a velvet glove to set clear limits with love.
an iron fist in a velvet glove
2Gentle appearance, harsh control
A person who looks kind and gentle but actually controls people in a very hard and strict way.
- The new CEO is an iron fist in a velvet glove: always smiling, but very tough.
- Her teaching style was an iron fist in a velvet glove—calm voice, strict rules.
rule with an iron fist
1Govern in a harsh, strict way
To control people in a very strict and often cruel way.
- The dictator ruled with an iron fist for over 20 years.
- The dictator ruled with an iron fist for more than thirty years.
- She runs her company with an iron fist, allowing no mistakes.
- Managers who rule with an iron fist often face quiet resistance from their teams.