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

Example Sentences

A 10-page dossier on Mr. Lynch—the American ICC official who was Mr. Khan’s right-hand man until he reported the assault allegation—was shared among researchers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Dr. Ralph Abraham, his right-hand man at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently shrugged off rising measles cases, saying that losing our elimination status was simply the “cost of doing business.”

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

Sanchez’s former right-hand man and former transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos, went on trial this month over alleged kickbacks linked to public contracts.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

At the time, in addition to Berrada, United had Wilcox as technical director, Christopher Vivell as an interim director of recruitment and Ratcliffe's right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford as a football club director.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

An old man with a lined rectangular face and a scar across the flat arch of his nose, he was the leader of the larboard watch and Reed’s right-hand man.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee