velvet glove

See synonyms for velvet glove on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an outwardly gentle or friendly manner used to disguise one's firm or ruthless determination.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use velvet glove in a sentence

  • While it lasted we literally and constantly meet with the “iron hand under the velvet glove.”

    Armour in England | J. Starkie Gardner
  • It was only by gentlest degrees that the iron hand of satire made itself felt under the velvet glove of conventional good manners.

    Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3 | Mary Elizabeth Braddon
  • In the practical world there are two conquering forces—the iron hand and the velvet glove.

  • The touch of the would-be iron hand in the velvet glove of faded age made him conscious of his vast advantage over her.

    The Heather-Moon | C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
  • That auspicious day when the velvet glove will be stripped for ever from the cloven hoof of the German Eagle.