strongarm

Strongarm, or strong-armed, is a term in English with both verb and noun usages. As a verb, to strong-arm someone means to compel them to comply through the use or threat of force, coercive pressure, or intimidation; it can also describe physically seizing or pushing someone aside with one's strength. As a noun, a strong arm or strong-arm tactics refers to methods of coercion used to obtain a desired outcome, often in negotiations, politics, business, or criminal activity.

Etymology: the expression derives from the image of using one's arm as a powerful weapon; the phrase emphasizes muscular force as a means of control. The construction has appeared in English since the 19th century, with use across American and British contexts.

Usage: The term is commonly employed in journalism and debate to characterize non-legal pressure, such as employment leverage, political pressure, or gang intimidation. In sports, players may be described as strong-arming opponents when they use their body or arms to create an advantage, though such actions can result in penalties or fouls depending on the rules of the game.

Variants: the hyphenated form strong-armed appears as an adjective or past tense verb; strong-arm tactics is a frequent collocation. The phrase should not be confused with literal, lawful force or with other terms for coercion such as coercion, intimidation, or extortion. In popular culture, strongarm may appear as a nickname or title, but such uses are context-dependent.

See also: coercion, extortion, bullying, political pressure, intimidation.