A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

dead hand • dead man’s hand
dead hand —
1
. the influence of the past regarded as control-
ling the present: The dead hand of vanished generations of
historians has determined beyond possibility of appeal the
pattern of the past. 2. (coll.) an expert at doing smth.: First-
rate work it was, too; he was always a dead hand at splitting.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase hand of death—(liter.) death; demise: If, under its in-
fluence, normal physical functions could be suspended, per-
haps the hand of death, too, could be stayed.
dead man’s hand —a zoophyte (Alcyonium digitatum) form-
ing fleshy masses: Dead Man’s Hand is indebted for the En-
glish name to the fishermen, who often take it up in their
nets.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase dead-man’s arm—(UK) a flat-rolled suet pudding,
which is then spread with jam and rolled up: Because Jam Roly-
Poly was often served in an old shirt-sleeve, another nickname
for the pudding was dead-man’s arm.
dead head • death’s head
dead head —
1
. (coll.) a person who contributes nothing to
an enterprise or activity; a non–fare-paying passenger, etc.:
“No more dead-heads,” Mr. Skinner warned. “Hereafter, pay
for your guests.” 2. a dead flower that has become withered
and faded: The culling of dead heads is a ploy that figures
persistently in the garden in summer. 3. an obstruction float-
ing so low in the water that only a small part of it is visible:
Numerous “dead-heads” bobbed in the current like otters
swimming with the stream.
death’s head —a human scull as an emblem of death or a
danger sign: There had been three variations of the chemical
hazard symbol. One was a picture of a death’s head, or skull
and crossbones.