long arm

American  

noun

1. a long pole fitted with any of various devices, as a hook or clamp, for performing tasks otherwise out of reach.

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long arm British  

noun

1. power, esp far-reaching power

   the long arm of the law

2. to reach out for something, as from a sitting position

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Example Sentences

But even here, the long arm of the crisis is visible, with the TV reception periodically freezing, triggering loud groans from supporters clad in the yellow Brazilian jerseys of stars Vinicius Junior, Neymar and others.

From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026

But as far as the public knows, there’s at least one target who has so far evaded America’s long arm: Sayf al-Adl.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Among the more classic dissidents is Badiucao, a Melbourne-based artist with firsthand experience of how far the long arm of the Party can extend.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

The nation’s multilayered historical background has been variously stamped by a basic Arabic heritage, ineradicable remnants of protracted Ottoman Turkish rule and the long arm of the British colonial empire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Dimly through the mists they could descry the long arm of the mountains rising on their left.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien