carry the big stick
wield the big stick

"I believe that America should speak softly and carry the biggest stick.

"They haven't really had to be competent-not when they carry the biggest stick in the known universe.

In the B'hava'el system, the Cardassians carried the big stick.

(When watching this on The Bugs Bunny Show, Daffy Duck says "I speak medium, and I carry the BIGGEST stick.)

On his first day of employment he informed me that for the betterment of the country I should let him wield the big stick of policy making.

Because of his refusal to be the bad guy I have no choice but to wield the big stick on things like teeth brushing and - whoops, yes - homework.

Soft-spoken Mike Gartner wielded the big stick, scoring three times in less than 28 minutes of hockey for the second playoff hat trick of his career.

Now, though, the official said, "we all have to contribute to an attractive path to Iran cooperating, and all have to contribute to wielding the big stick if Iran doesn't cooperate."

As a manager of the fund that wields the biggest stick among Macy's creditors - Fidelity Investment's Capital and Income Fund - Daniel Harmetz is being courted by rival retailers at the same time that he is wooing others to join the fray.