battle-ax

(old) battle-ax(e)

A strong-willed, argumentative woman, typically older in age, who is considered overbearing or domineering. My grandmother was always the matriarch of the entire family, an old battle-axe who answered to no one but God. I gained a reputation of being a bit of a battle ax in the office because of how outspoken and unbending I am about certain issues.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

battle-ax

A bossy, combative woman. Obviously referring to the ancient weapon, the figurative usage dates from the late 1800s. For example, “That battle-ax of a secretary guards her boss so no one can get in to see him.” The cliché is now heard less often and may be dying out.

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

See also:

old battle-axe
(old) battle-ax(e)
with a high hand
toughen up
be a man
pussy whip
pussy whipped
pussywhipped
pussy-whipped
a/the softly-softly approach

References in classic literature

On the walls, over the doors, on the ceiling, were swords, daggers, Malay creeses, maces, battle-axes; gilded, damasked, and inlaid suits of armor; dried plants, minerals, and stuffed birds, their flame-colored wings outspread in motionless flight, and their beaks forever open.

Count of Monte Cristo

The oldest, dated 1500-1300 BC, was from Nandrup in northwestern Denmark, where a warrior prince had been buried in an oak coffin with a massively hafted bronze sword, battle-ax, and pottery jar whose interior was covered with a dark residue that was sampled.

Scandinavians were 'merrily' glugging Nordic 'grog' as early as 1AD!

He emerges as a genuinely likeable guy--the opposite of his battle-ax of a mother--who always cast a wry eye on the world's follies.

Concrete expressionism; David Anfam on De Kooning: An American Master

We must stand to the fight-wing ideologues and say, "No, that is not the way it is!" and "I'm not going to stay quiet!" No one can be permitted to use the Holy Scriptures like a battle-ax to kill and wound our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, unimpeded.

Rescuing Christ from the "Christians": V. Gene Robinson's installation as an Episcopal bishop was greeted largely by silence from gay quarters. Yet as Old Catholic Archbishop Bruce Simpson points out, the power of religion in the world remains unmatched in swaying public opinion and, more urgently, in damaging gay youth. Where is our pride--and our outrage?

Analysis of the skeletons belonging to the skulls indicates that these individuals died of sword and battle-ax wounds, Murphy and her colleagues report in the January American Journal of Archaeology.

Skulls attest to Iron Age scalping. (Archaelogy)

Battle-ax Division: From Africa to Italy with the 78th Division, 1942-45.

Battle-ax Division: From Africa to Italy with the 78th Division, 1942-45

"Uh, that's your battle-ax," one of Quantum3D's technical staff gently corrects me.

The Pentagon Goes to the Video Arcade

Canales himself essayed the title role (the matriarch, not her casa) as an iron-willed battle-ax minding her spinster-bound daughters.

DANSA VALENCIA

Originally taking its form front an ancient battle-ax planted in the ground to mark place and direction, this monumental adaptation is modeled on the 500-year-old Hua Biao pillars in front of the Forbidden City, opposite Tiananmen Square.

THIRD ASIA-PACIFIC TRIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART

tiresome battle-ax (played by Judy Kaye) shouting slogans

Ragtime

词组	battle-ax
释义	battle-ax (old) battle-ax(e) A strong-willed, argumentative woman, typically older in age, who is considered overbearing or domineering. My grandmother was always the matriarch of the entire family, an old battle-axe who answered to no one but God. I gained a reputation of being a bit of a battle ax in the office because of how outspoken and unbending I am about certain issues. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. battle-ax A bossy, combative woman. Obviously referring to the ancient weapon, the figurative usage dates from the late 1800s. For example, “That battle-ax of a secretary guards her boss so no one can get in to see him.” The cliché is now heard less often and may be dying out. The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: old battle-axe (old) battle-ax(e) with a high hand toughen up be a man pussy whip pussy whipped pussywhipped pussy-whipped a/the softly-softly approach References in classic literature On the walls, over the doors, on the ceiling, were swords, daggers, Malay creeses, maces, battle-axes; gilded, damasked, and inlaid suits of armor; dried plants, minerals, and stuffed birds, their flame-colored wings outspread in motionless flight, and their beaks forever open. Count of Monte Cristo The oldest, dated 1500-1300 BC, was from Nandrup in northwestern Denmark, where a warrior prince had been buried in an oak coffin with a massively hafted bronze sword, battle-ax, and pottery jar whose interior was covered with a dark residue that was sampled. Scandinavians were 'merrily' glugging Nordic 'grog' as early as 1AD! He emerges as a genuinely likeable guy--the opposite of his battle-ax of a mother--who always cast a wry eye on the world's follies. Concrete expressionism; David Anfam on De Kooning: An American Master We must stand to the fight-wing ideologues and say, "No, that is not the way it is!" and "I'm not going to stay quiet!" No one can be permitted to use the Holy Scriptures like a battle-ax to kill and wound our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, unimpeded. Rescuing Christ from the "Christians": V. Gene Robinson's installation as an Episcopal bishop was greeted largely by silence from gay quarters. Yet as Old Catholic Archbishop Bruce Simpson points out, the power of religion in the world remains unmatched in swaying public opinion and, more urgently, in damaging gay youth. Where is our pride--and our outrage? Analysis of the skeletons belonging to the skulls indicates that these individuals died of sword and battle-ax wounds, Murphy and her colleagues report in the January American Journal of Archaeology. Skulls attest to Iron Age scalping. (Archaelogy) Battle-ax Division: From Africa to Italy with the 78th Division, 1942-45. Battle-ax Division: From Africa to Italy with the 78th Division, 1942-45 "Uh, that's your battle-ax," one of Quantum3D's technical staff gently corrects me. The Pentagon Goes to the Video Arcade Canales himself essayed the title role (the matriarch, not her casa) as an iron-willed battle-ax minding her spinster-bound daughters. DANSA VALENCIA Originally taking its form front an ancient battle-ax planted in the ground to mark place and direction, this monumental adaptation is modeled on the 500-year-old Hua Biao pillars in front of the Forbidden City, opposite Tiananmen Square. THIRD ASIA-PACIFIC TRIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART tiresome battle-ax (played by Judy Kaye) shouting slogans Ragtime
随便看	order (one) off the field order (one) out (of some place) order out order out of some place orders are orders order someone about order up ordinary or else Oreo Oreo cookie org organ organ grinder's monkey organic organise organize org chart orient orient to orient to (something) original character originate originate from originate from (some place or something)