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a violent-tempered or intractable person: e.g., She's a right tartar, that one!

To catch a Tartar; to attack one of superior strength or abilities. This saying originated from a story of an Irish-soldier in the Imperial service, who, in a battle against the Turks, called out to his comrade that he had caught a Tartar. ‘Bring him along then,’ said he.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q= ... 24&bih=427 (it's quite a way down but it's there!)

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Mel

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A bit of a tartar - one of my mum's expressions but only ever in relation to women, never men. Where I come from it's taken to mean someone who's a bit high-handed and imperious.

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at