HEAVY-HANDED

adj. 1. Not skillful or graceful; clumsy. George is heavy-handed and seldom catches the ball. My sister plays the piano badly; she is too heavy-handed. Tim told a heavy-handed joke about the principal's baldness that embarrassed everyone. 2. Likely to hit or punish hard; harsh or cruel in making (someone) obey. Years ago many fathers were heavy-handed bosses in their homes. Many American colonists believed that the English tax collectors were too heavy-handed. 3. See: HAM-HANDED.