whip hand

It’s always been the case that the American people can override the rule of law — a normally slight risk that has roared forward in recent years under the whip hand of a would-be tyrant.

"The CCI has the whip hand and has, on occasions, adopted a 'take it or leave it' approach," he added.

Typically they are a ragtag bunch posturing to one another under the whip hand of a charismatic leader, like Stewart Rhodes — as Tuesday’s hearing revealed.

Sinn Féin hold the whip hand and can block that, if they so wish, because they have to elect a deputy first minister in the joint office.

Nearby, the two military leaders of the militia turned political bloc, which now holds a whip hand in Lebanese affairs, were buried under cutouts of their likenesses.