Meaning
henchman, lackey
- a subservient follower who does unpleasant or menial chores for a superior
In a sentence
Il boss non si sporca mai le mani e manda sempre i suoi tirapiedi.
The boss never gets his hands dirty and always sends his henchmen.
Perché continui a fare il tirapiedi di quel presuntuoso?
Why do you keep acting as that arrogant guy's lackey?
Non sono il tirapiedi di nessuno e so decidere con la mia testa.
I am nobody's lackey and I can think for myself.
Word forms (3)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| tirapiedi | masculine · singular |
| tirapiedi | masculine · plural |
| tirapiedi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Informal: derogatory term for a minion or henchman.
- Invariable compound noun; the form stays 'tirapiedi' in the plural.