Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
strong-arm en · ADJ
Etymology
From strong + arm.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Bullying; extortionate.
-
(figuratively, not-comparable, usually) Coercive, employing force.
"Some applications will fail. ORR does not need strong-arm tactics from DfT muddying the waters."
2025 July 9, David Stubbings, “Network News: Open access row: DfT accused of "strong-arm tactics"”, in RAIL, number 1039, page 6:
Forms
strong-arm en · NOUN
Etymology
From strong + arm.
Meanings
-
A person who threatens or intimidates others, especially on behalf of somebody else; a goon or enforcer.
There used to be a goon I knew in the Bronx—a tough mockie we used to call Yussel the Bricklayer—and you never saw a guy who was more screwed up. This guy Yussel would've been a strongarm for nothing, he enjoyed it so much.
2000, Irving Shulman, The Big Brokers:
Forms
Relateds
by the strong hand
strong-arm en · VERB
Etymology
From strong + arm.
Meanings
-
(figuratively, often, transitive) To bully, to intimidate; to coerce, to muscle.
It is difficult to summarise the arrogance, contempt, complacency and incompetence shown by the DfT in a scheme where it strong-armed the rail industry (in the form of the Rail Delivery Group) to 'front up'.
2023 August 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Disinterested and dishonest”, in RAIL, number 989, page 3:One of the boss’ hangers-on
Comes to call at times you least expect
Try to bully ya—strong-arm you—inspire you with fear
2001, Bob Dylan, “Floater (Too Much to Ask)”, in Love and Theft:The CEO was often forced back into damage control mode, however, including denying reports from the Wall Street Journal earlier this year that X had strong-armed companies to advertise on the platform by threatening lawsuits against them.
2025 July 9, Blake Montgomery, Nick Robins-Early, “Linda Yaccarino stepping down as CEO of Elon Musk’s X”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:In a five-part series on the “Extremely Passive Aggressive Roommate,” Ms. Brier […] complains about her roomie coming home at 3:27 a.m.; strong-arms that roommate into renewing their lease and then welcomes a guest to “the common space.”
2023 March 14, Alexandra Jacobs, “Your Annoying Roommate Is Slaying on TikTok”, in The New York Times:
Forms
Coordinates
threaten · arm-twist · jawbone