| 释义 |
strong arm, n. (and a.) orig. U.S.
A. n.
1. Used transf. and fig. with reference to power, esp. in strong arm of the law. Cf. long a. 1 c.
1606B. Barnes Offices i. 2 It [sc. riches] is the bone of that strong arme, by which the kingdome is in time of peace strengthened against all hostile attempts. 1822Galt Provost xxiv, The five poor barks, that were warsling against the strong arm of the elements. 1873B. Harte Fiddletown 27 His abuse was confined to the police and limited by the strong arm of the law. 1911Marett Anthropol. vii. 181 To one who lives under civilized conditions the phrase ‘the strong arm of the law’ inevitably suggests the policeman.
2. With the: physical force or violence considered as a means of action, spec. in the course of robbery. Cf. strong hand.
1836M. Holley Texas xiv. 322 This military council..distributed lots to the inhabitants, contrary to all law, but that of the strong arm. 1903A. H. Lewis Boss 316 He was all for th' strong-arm, an' th' knock-about! It's a bad system. Nothin's lost by bein' smooth, Gov'nor. 1907J. London Road 169 Into the man's back goes his knee; around the man's neck..passes his right hand, the bone of the wrist pressing against the jugular vein. Barber Kid throws his whole weight backward... It is the strong arm. 1948Daily Express 2 Oct. 1/5 Modern youngsters..get panicky and use the strong arm.
3. A criminal who resorts to violence; one who is employed or hired to use force against persons.
1907J. London Road 159 A world of rods and gunnels, blind baggages and ‘side-door Pullmans’..‘strong arms’ and ‘bindle-stiffs’. 1932‘Spindrift’ Yankee Slang 60 Strong arm, bouncer or ‘chucker out’ for speakeasies and Honkytonks. 1978N. J. Crisp London Deal ii. 21 He was a strong arm for an ambitious East End team which..incurred the displeasure of the incumbent mob.
B. attrib. or as adj. (stress on first syllable).
1. Of a person: having or showing strength of arm; physically powerful; spec. of a criminal: resorting to violence, esp. for hire or in the case of robbery. Freq. in phr. strong-arm man.
1897Eldridge & Watts Our Rival, the Rascal ix. 281 The ordinary robber of to-day is frequently and familiarly styled by his ‘pals’, a ‘strong arm man’. 1904‘No. 1500’ Life in Sing Sing 257/2 Strongarm guy, highway robber. 1931Times 24 Sept. 11/2 A large force of gunmen and ‘strongarm men’..was soon effective in breaking down the resistance of the strikers. 1947J. Mulgan Report on Experience x. 125 It comes down to cases with two strong-arm men who call round and offer a beating-up. 1953J. Phelan Underworld i. 21 A strong-arm chap is, roughly speaking, a bruiser, one who, for a pound or two, will punch some one on the nose, or start a fight in a pub, or even sometimes assault the police. 1973D. Westheimer Going Public ii. 27 Your strongarm boy won't always be around to save your skin.
2. Of an action: involving the use of physical violence. Also of policies, etc.: characterized by a display of (excessive) force; heavy-handed, oppressive, bullying.
1901‘J. Flynt’ World of Graft ii. 18, I had been inclined to believe that the ‘strong-arm’ crimes were committed by men who were transients in the city. 1930P. MacDonald Link vii. 109 The law was in a pair, and with..a little strong-arm stuff of their own, got the two apart. 1951E. Paul Springtime in Paris xi. 202 The Communists began strong-arm tactics to discourage the timid from seeing things at night. 1973Wodehouse Bachelors Anonymous xii. 160 The strong-arm methods favoured by both counsellors might, of course, be resented, for he had no official knowledge that his love was returned. 1978S. Brill Teamsters vii. 288 The Vice-President has a record of strong-arm robbery.
Hence ˈstrong-arm v. trans., to treat roughly or manhandle (a person); to rob with violence, to coerce; to seize (something) by force; also intr., to proceed in an aggressive, bullying manner; ˈstrong-arming vbl. n.
1903Monthly Maroon (Chicago) June 444 If he refused, Phil..was to strong-arm him while Tommy took away the badge. 1937E. Hemingway To have & have Not iii. vii. 130 Don't try to strong arm it away from me. 1941Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 73 Strongarm, to, to act in a bullying fashion. 1948Lait & Mortimer New York xi. 114 Mugging..in old Chicago days called ‘strong-arming’. 1954D. Dodge Lights of Skaro vi. 215, I strong-armed my way out like a hero. 1965D. Francis Odds Against xiii. 179 He was strong-arming Brinton. 1969Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 27 Feb. 35/1 A new trial was ordered by the B.C. Court of Appeals for a man jailed..in connection with a Prince George strongarming. 1977Observer (Colour Suppl.) 5 June 42/3 The OAS had financed themselves initially by strong-arming contributions from rich settlers, who usually shared their sympathies. |