But the South Korean leader has had his own problems in recent weeks, and some diplomats say they have weakened his hand.

"Sometimes attempts are made to weaken my hand," he added.

Now, his lame-duck status is sure to weaken Chicago's hand.

More than a dozen years ago he had a stroke that severely weakened his left hand.

That kind of bullheaded thinking will weaken the president's hand at home and at the U.N.

Unions traditionally oppose back-to-work injunctions because they have been used to weaken labor's hand.

In January, with the first universal elections threatening to weaken their hand, the farmers and the state made an offer.

Care should be taken to avoid key information being released at a late stage in the process which therefore weakens the vendor's controlling hand.

"But the violence will weaken his hand, and together these two forces could be overwhelming."

The document's principle aim is to weaken the Governor's hand.