![to [take] the bread out of {one's} mouth](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/46370/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [take] the bread out of {one's} mouth")
to deprive people of their most basic means of living, particularly via unfair mathods
Ex:
![to [rub] salt (in|into) the wound](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/46434/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [rub] salt (in|into) the wound")
to make a difficult or painful situation even worse for someone
Ex:
I
can't
believe
you
would
ask
me
to
pay
you
back
on
the
day
that
I
got
laid
off.
Thanks
for
rubbing
salt
in
my
wounds.
![to [drive|strike] a hard bargain](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/46426/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [drive|strike] a hard bargain")
to be tough and smart in negotiations, insisting on favorable terms to achieve a favorable outcome for oneself
Ex:
The
car
salesman
knew
he
would
have to
drive
a
hard
bargain
with
the
customer
who
was
a
skilled
negotiator
.
iron fist
[名词]
铁拳
Ex:
The
dictator
ruled
the
country
with
an
iron fist
,
suppressing
dissent
and
opposition
.
独裁者用铁拳统治国家，压制异议和反对派。
![to [put] {sb} through hell](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/42796/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [put] {sb} through hell")
to cause a person experience great difficulty
Ex:
When
she
leaves
him
in
despair
,
he
puts
her
through
hell
until
she
wins
custody
of
their
sons
.
![to [twist|turn] the knife (in the wound|)](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/46438/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [twist|turn] the knife (in the wound|)")
to purposefully make someone suffer more than they already do
Ex:
Any more
cuts
in
government
aid
to
these
poor people
will
be
twisting
the
knife
in
the
wound
.
heavy hand
[名词]
重手
Ex:
The
new
manager
ruled
with
a
heavy hand
,
imposing
strict
rules
and
micro-managing
the
employees
,
which
led
to
low
morale
in
the
workplace
.
新经理以铁腕手段统治， imposing strict rules and micro-managing the employees, which led to low morale in the workplace.
a person who appears gentle and kind on the outside, but they are firm, resolute, and even ruthless in their actions
Ex:
The
patriarch
has
always
been
an
iron fist
in
a
velvet glove
.
![to [cramp] {one's} style](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/43726/thumb/180?type=jpeg "to [cramp] {one's} style")
to stop someone from acting freely, creatively, comfortably, or in their usual way
Ex:
Her
partner
's
jealousy
began
to
cramp
her
style
,
limiting
her
interactions
with
friends
and
colleagues
.