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 right-hand man of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi was killed by an airstrike in Mosul.

From The Daily Beast

As Schaeffer grew more strident and political, his son was his right-hand man.

From The Daily Beast

Brian Lewis Lewis was the right-hand man of Fox News chief Roger Ailes before he was fired last month in spectacular fashion.

From The Daily Beast

Harry's right-hand man Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton got him a glass of water.

From The Daily Beast

Paddy, a Towson junior from Baltimore, is his right-hand man.

From The Daily Beast

Why not give up the sea, remain here, and be my trusted friend and right-hand man in the management of the estate?

From Project Gutenberg

Two of the warders were agents of Prendergast, and the second mate was his right-hand man.

From Project Gutenberg

She also makes the mayonnaise and helps me here in the kitchen when I need her, but Gwen is my right hand man.

From Project Gutenberg

But the captain liked me also very much, and I was entirely his right-hand man.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, my girl, that clock was my right hand man and my adviser.

From Project Gutenberg