force to be reckoned with

force to be reckoned with

A person or thing considered to be strong, powerful, or difficult to defeat. They say the young boxer is a force to be reckoned with, so I'm betting he'll win the match tonight. The attorney may look petite and meek, but she's a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom.
See also: force, reckon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

force to be reckoned with

Fig. someone or something that is important and powerful and must not be ignored. Walter is a force to be reckoned with. Be prepared to deal with him. The growing discontent with the political system is a powerful force to be reckoned with.
See also: force, reckon
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

force to be reckoned with

see under reckon with.
See also: force, reckon
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a force to be ˈreckoned with

a person or thing that has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously: The increased size of the country’s army means that it is now a force to be reckoned with. Be very careful how you deal with her because she’s a force to be reckoned with.
See also: force, reckon
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a force to be reckoned with
  • be a force to be reckoned with
  • a force to reckon with
  • reckon
  • to be reckoned with
  • (someone or something) to be reckoned with
  • force
  • tomato can
  • up the ante
  • gamble on (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Tough-talking Courtney Love is a force to be reckoned with
the week in quotes
"AB is a fantastic company, a force to be reckoned with," he said.
AUSTRALIAN STRETTON IS LONDON'S NEWEST ROYAL
"But once we all find our feet, then I'm sure Newport are going to be a force to be reckoned with."
Rugby: Gary sure Newport can glitter
A former Hill staffer, he is on a first-name basis with most Congressional leaders and, due to his capacity to mobilize media and mass attention for his political causes, he is a force to be reckoned with. Although his enemies would perhaps like to see him as an Afro-Don Quixote chasing small windmills, few powerbrokers in D.C.
Citizen Diplomat: A Black Life in America
"They have some highly-talented individual players and if they can put it all together they can still be a force to be reckoned with.
Lennon praying for no injuries
"We have a great bunch of players here at the Deva, and while the results in the last few games haven't gone for us, when this new squad gels it will be a force to be reckoned with."
Football: Vaughan turns down move to Boston
Padraig Joyce, Declan Meehan and especially Michael Donnelan make a real force to be reckoned with.
DECLAIN DECLAIRES: ROSCOMMON CAN DO BATTLE WITH GALWAY
Hoops boss Martin O'Neill expressed his relief, insisting a fully fit Petta is a force to be reckoned with.
Football: Bob feels a lot Petta
Be it Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Qatar or Saudi Arabia; Ireland have proved they are a force to be reckoned with on the World stage, having pushed Holland into third place in the qualifying group.
The Irish boys are too good to miss out on World Cup; SPEAKING UP FOR MERSEYSIDE
Holmes, 30, is now injury-free and thriving after three weeks of warm weather training in South Africa and admitted: 'I am looking to make my mark early this year and let the rest of the world know I am still a force to be reckoned with.'
Holmes aim is to bridge 1000m gap
"He is also in the Champion Stakes and wherever he goes he will have to be a force to be reckoned with.
Spear aimed at Oz
(The welfare-reform package, steeped as it is in victimblaming "underclass" discourse, promises to bring out the worst ideological tendencies in the group.) Although Caucus chair Kweisi Mfume has attained cachet as a force to be reckoned with in the House, he cannot impose discipline on the Caucus's members.
Black leadership in crisis
He is a force to be reckoned with and can only get better as his confidence grows.
Hero Higgins; Your view
``I am a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division and it is my mission to be champion of the world.''
BOXING: Audley seals US fight deal