dead hand
Americannoun
noun
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an oppressive or discouraging influence or factor
the dead hand of centralized control
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law a less common word for mortmain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The levers you pull don't just connect to something – the dead hand of the Treasury can't simply control economic growth."
From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025
The study group report said Russia has not said whether the upgrade of its nuclear command and control system will result in canceling the dead hand system.
From Washington Times • May 29, 2023
And their emancipation from the dead hand of everything prior.
From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2022
All around him are mediocrities, representing either the dead hand of the state, bureaucrats serving some notional collective good, or “second handers” – corporate parasites who profit from the work and vision of others.
From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2017
“Come,” La Llorona said, rubbing my arm with her cold, dead hand.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
