right-hand man

American  

noun

1. an indispensable or invaluable assistant; right hand.

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right-hand man Idioms  

1. Also, right-hand woman. A trusted helper, as in Give it to Jill, she's my right-hand man. Based on the idea that in most people the right hand is the stronger of the two, this idiom today usually disregards gender, as in the example. However, in the the 17th and 18th centuries it also meant a soldier in a post of command on the right side of a cavalry unit, and then always denoted a man. [c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of right-hand man

First recorded in 1655–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

right-hand man

Around the same time, Kinahan’s right-hand man, Sean McGovern, was arrested in Dubai.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, Infantino's right-hand man, had been critical in an internal memo to staff, calling the FFE proposals "a sad and reproachable series of events".

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Prevented from running in the last presidential election due to a defamation conviction, Sonko had designated his right-hand man, Faye, to replace him in the race.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

Guardiola's right-hand man Manel Estiarte, fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and long-serving goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor were all recognised for their contributions too, with the trio also set to depart.

From BBC ● May 24, 2026

Together, he and Rondon’s right-hand man, Lyra, pulled and pushed the biggest and heaviest canoe.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

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