heavy-handed
Not skillful or graceful; clumsy.
George is heavy-handed and seldom catches the ball.
My sister plays the piano badly; she is too heavy-handed.
Tim told a heavy-handed joke about the principal's baldness that embarrassed everyone.
Likely to hit or punish hard; harsh or cruel in making (someone) obey.
Years ago many fathers were heavy-handed bosses in their homes.
Many American colonists believed that the English tax collectors were too heavy-handed.
Indelicate. Clumsy.
Paul is a little heavy-handed at times, but mostly he’s reasonable.
high-handed
Depending on force rather than right; bossy; dictatorial.
With high-handed daring, John helped himself to the best food on the table.
Mr. Smith was a high-handed tyrant in his office.
in hand
Under control.
The principal was happy to find that the new teacher had her class in hand.
The baby-sitter kept the children well in hand.
Mabel was frightened when the barking dog ran at her, but she soon got herself in hand and walked on.
The copilot asked the pilot if he had the plane in hand or whether he needed any help navigating through the severe thunderstorm.
The police officer radioed to the station that she had the emergency situation in hand and didn’t require any assistance.
In your possession; with you. Often used in the phrase cash in hand.
Tom figured that his cash in hand with his weekly pay would be enough to buy a car.
Being worked on; with you to do.
We should finish the work we have in hand before we begin something new.
join forces
join hands
To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite.
The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down.
The American soldiers joined hands with the British in the war against Germany.
keep one's hand in
To keep in practice; continue to take part.
After he retired from teaching, Mr. Brown kept his hand in by giving a lecture once in a while.
Mr. Smith left the planning of the trip to his wife, but he kept his hand in, too.
lay hands on
To get hold of; find; catch.
The treasure hunters can keep any treasure they can lay hands on.
If the police can lay hands on him, they will put him in jail.
To do violence to; harm; hurt.
They were afraid that if they left him alone in his disturbed condition he would lay hands on himself.
lay one's hand on
put one's hand on
To find; locate.
He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it.
lay one's hands on
get one's hands on
To seize in order to punish or treat roughly.
If I ever lay my hands on that boy he'll be sorry.
To get possession of.
He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school play.
To find; locate.
He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it.