hammer and tongs
The English word “hammer and tongs” has 1 meaning listed here.
phrase
- In a manner indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.
Etymology
Perhaps from the use of a hammer and tongs by traditional blacksmiths. May also be suggestive of the manner in which the hammer is used.
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.