rule with an iron fist/hand

idiom

chiefly US

: to rule a country, area, group, etc., in a very strict and often cruel way

The dictator ruled (the country) with an iron fist.

Examples of rule with an iron fist/hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Without the agreement, the only way for Yanukovych to keep the presidency is to court his own electorate by appealing to its authoritarian values, rig the elections, fully appropriate the autocratic powers that his base admires, and rule with an iron fist. —Alexander J. Motyl, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2013

In one of his studies, musicians who worked in symphony orchestras, where many conductors rule with an iron fist, were 21 percent less satisfied with their growth opportunities than players in leaderless string quartets. —Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2021

The Ruling The Old Georgetown Board seems to rule with an iron fist — just try putting up a neon sign in the neighborhood — but its power is advisory. —Noreen Malone, New York Times, 1 June 2023

But despite modernizations, these monarchs rule with an iron fist. —Ruby Mellen, Washington Post, 4 May 2023

Iranian-Americans and Iranians within the country, who have long championed an Iran free from the mullahs who rule with an iron fist, have placed question marks over Biden’s human rights promises. —Fox News, 29 Dec. 2022

Rose Abdoo, Polly Draper) and over which Ms. Smart is likely to rule with an iron fist in an iron glove. —John Anderson, WSJ, 10 May 2022

The elite rule with an iron fist—and a giant spleen. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2022

Up until recently, it was accepted practices for CEOs, executives and middle managers to rule with an iron fist. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022