right-hand man

noun

1. an indispensable or invaluable assistant; right hand.

Word History and Origins

Origin of right-hand man¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Idioms and Phrases

Also, right-hand woman . A trusted helper, as in Give it to Jill, she's my right-hand man . Based on the idea that in most people the right hand is the stronger of the two, this idiom today usually disregards gender, as in the example. However, in the the 17th and 18th centuries it also meant a soldier in a post of command on the right side of a cavalry unit, and then always denoted a man. [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

The comments were some of Vance's first since he completed his journey from a staunch Trump critic to his right-hand man and vice president-elect.

From Salon

Jones, who had died at the age of 91, was the right-hand man to both Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, and helped to shape the sound of jazz and pop over more than 60 years.

From BBC

No one, however, has shown more trust in Gomes than Friedman — who has passed myriad responsibilities off to his right-hand man in hopes of creating more “front-office firepower.”

From Los Angeles Times

A week later, he was headed back to the West Coast to work as right-hand man to offensive line coach Mike Devlin, another former NFL center.

From Los Angeles Times

The senior commander is also known as the Shadow Man and has been viewed as Mohammed Deif's right-hand man.

From BBC