Sheriff of Nottingham
Outlaw hunter, medieval
The Sheriff of Nottingham is the villain in Robin Hood legends—the corrupt local authority who oppresses the poor while Robin steals from the rich.
The phrase serves as shorthand for petty tyranny or abuse of official power: The HOA president acts like the Sheriff of Nottingham.
In casual use, it can describe anyone enforcing rules with excessive zeal or self-importance.
- merry menLoyal outlaw companions
- villainWicked story antagonist
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- outlawFugitive from justice
- highway robberyOutrageously excessive charge
tax collector · tax collection · law enforcement · Prince John · tyranny · castle · greedy · corrupt · crossbow · archery contest · forest · Sherwood · arrows · bounty · guards · England · archery · treachery
- Robin HoodRobin Hood, Friar Tuck, Little John, Maid Marian, Sherwood Forest
- Alan Rickman rolesSnape, Metatron, Marvin, Jamie
- British Folklorefairy, fairies, pixie, pixies, brownie
- Pantomime VillainsCaptain Hook, Evil Queen, Wicked Witch
- Negotiation GamesChinatown, Santiago, Genoa
- deception gamesAmong Us, Avalon, Insider, BS
relationship to the oppressed
Sheriff of NottinghamRobin Hood
Legendary forest-dwelling archer
folk hero · freedom fighter · liberator · resistance leader · philanthropist