with a heavy hand
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Oppressively; without sparing. f It is a damned a*nd a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, If that it be the work of any hand.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “with a heavy hand” mean?
Oppressively; without sparing. f It is a damned a*nd a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, If that it be the work of any hand.
Is “with a heavy hand” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.