governments have long arms
governments have long arms
proverb The controlling sovereign or government of a given nation has broad, far-reaching power and influence that it can use to control or punish people. You do realize that the government is able to track just about every move you make, right? Remember—governments have long arms. The brigands thought they would be safe hiding out in this small provincial town, but governments have long arms, and they were eventually caught and hanged.
See also: arm, government, have, long
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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- For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse ...
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