# long arm

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/long-arm
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Influence; far-reaching power.

## Examples

- The company has a long arm in the local market.
- Even after moving to another country, the criminal found that the long arm of the law could still reach him.
- The organization exerts a long arm over global trade, ensuring that its policies influence even the most distant and independent economies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.