Idiom query: "make a fist of it"

[randy_byers]

So what does "make a fist of it" mean? I see this idiom in British English.

Comments

[dougs.livejournal.com]

What he said, but I always thought that there was always an additional implication that the attempt was made despite trying circumstances or inadequate resources -- such as Fred's inexperience in the example provided.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Thanks, guys. I guess leaving out the "good" is why I wasn't finding much via Google.

[del-c.livejournal.com]

This query turns up "good", "surprisingly good", "better", "decent", "pretty decent", "fair", "reasonable", "brave", and "brilliant".

Notice it's one of those idioms that only works one way: you can't, apparently, make a bad, appallingly bad or pathetic fist of a job.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I wondered about that. Maybe we should start a movement. The Making a Shitty Fist of It Movement. Er ...

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

But you can do a ham-fisted job of something.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Make a ham-fist of it?

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. You can be ham-fisted, which is a certain variant of clumsy pertaining to your intentions as to craftmanship not being backed up by your lack of skill or manual coordination.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Nevertheless, I think I made a ham-fist of my play on words.

[stevegreen.livejournal.com]

I've never heard that phrase with "good" part of it.