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What does "hand" mean?
In addition to the idioms beginning with hand, also see at first hand; at hand; at second hand; at the hand of; back of one's hand; bare hands; bird in the hand; bite the hand that feeds you; bound hand and foot; by hand; catch red-handed; change hands; clean hands; cold hands, warm heart; deal in (one a hand); dirty one's hands; eat out of someone's hand; feed (hand) someone a line; force someone's hand; free hand; from hand to hand; give a hand; glad hand; grease someone's palm (hand); hang heavy on one's hands; hat in hand; have a hand in; have one's hands full; heavy hand; helping hand; in good hands; in hand; in one's hands; in the hands of; iron hand; keep one's hand in; know like a book (the back of one's hand); lay hands on; left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing; left-handed compliment; lend a hand; many hands make light work; off one's hands; on a platter, hand; on hand; on one's hands; on the one hand; on the other hand; out of control (hand); out of hand; play into the hands of; putty in someone's hands; raise a hand against; right-hand man; rub one's hands; shake hands; show of hands; show one's hand; sit on one's hands; sleight of hand; take in hand; take into one's hands; take one's life (in one's hands); take the law into one's hands; throw in one's hand; throw up one's hands; tie one's hands; time on one's hands; tip one's hand; to hand; try one's hand; turn one's hand to; upper hand; wait on hand and foot; wash one's hands of; with one arm (hand) tied.
See hand in WNW Idioms
(at) first hand
from the original source; directly
at hand
- near; close by
- immediately available
(at) second hand
- not from the original source; indirectly
- not new; previously used
by hand
not by machines but with the hands
change hands
to pass from one owner to another
eat out of someone's hand
to be completely dominated by or devoted to someone
force someone's hand
Etymology: orig. a whist term
to force someone to act, or declare intentions, before he or she is ready
from hand to hand
from one person's possession to another's
from hand to mouth
with just enough for immediate needs and nothing left over for the future
hand and foot
- so that the hands and feet cannot move bound hand and foot
- constantly and diligently to wait on someone hand and foot
hand down
- to give as an inheritance; bequeath
- â to announce or deliver (a verdict, etc.)
hand in
to give; submit
hand in hand
- holding each other's hand
- together; in cooperation or correlation
hand it to
âSlang to give deserved credit to
hand off
Sports to hand (the ball) to a teammate during a play
hand on
to pass along; transmit
hand out
to distribute; deal out
hand over
to give up; deliver
hand over fist
Informal easily and in large amounts
hands down
without effort; easily
hands off!
don't touch!don't interfere!
hands up!
â raise your hands over your head!: an order given by a person pointing a gun, etc.
hand to hand
at close quarters: said of fighting
hand up
to present (an indictment) to a court: said of a grand jury
have one's hands full
to be extremely busy; be doing as much as one can
hold hands
to hold each other's hand, esp. in affection
in hand
- in order or control
- in possession
- being worked on; in process
join hands
- to become associates; enter into partnership
- to become husband and wife
keep one's hand in
to keep in practice in order to retain one's skill
lay hands on
- to attack, injure, or punish physically
- to get hold of; seize; take
- to place the hands on ceremonially, as in blessing or ordaining
not lift a hand
to do nothing; not even try
off one's hands
no longer in one's care; out of one's responsibility
on every hand
on all sides; in all directions
on hand
- near
- â available or ready
- â present
on one's hands
in one's care; being one's responsibility
on the one hand
from one point of view
on the other hand
from the opposed point of view
out of hand
- out of control
- immediately; without preliminaries or delay
- over and done with
show one's hand
Etymology: orig. with reference to card playing
to disclose one's intentions
take in hand
- to take control of or responsibility for
- to take up; handle; treat
- to try; attempt
throw up one's hands
to give up in despair
to hand
- near; accessible
- in one's possession
turn (or put) one's hand to
to undertake; work at
wash one's hands of
to refuse to go on with or take responsibility for
with a heavy hand
- in a heavy manner; without delicacy or grace
- with severity or sternness
with a high hand
with arrogance; in an arbitrary or dictatorial manner
with clean hands
without guilt; as an innocent person
See hand in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms
at hand
- Close by; near.
- Soon in time; imminent: Retribution is at hand.
hand
at the /hands of
By or through the agency of: favors he received at the hands of his uncle.
by hand
By using the hands; manually.
get
/lay (one's) hands on
To get possessioon of; acquire or obtain.
hand and foot
With concerted, never-ending effort: had to wait on them hand and foot.
in
hand /and glove
On intimate terms or in close association: “The folklore of American academia says that publishing and teaching go hand in glove” (Edward B. Fiske).
hand in hand
In cooperation; jointly.
hand it to
Informal
To give credit to: You've got to hand it to her; she knows what she's doing.
hand over fist
At a tremendous rate: made money hand over fist.
hands down
- With no trouble; easily.
- Indisputably; unquestionably.
in hand
- In one's possession: arrived with the contract in hand.
- Under control: kept the tense situation in hand.
- Under consideration: gave her attention to the matter in hand.
- In preparation or process: With the work finally in hand, we began to see progress. Sports
- Remaining to be played by one team but not by another: Their team is ahead in the standings, but our team has two games in hand.
off (one's) hands
No longer under one's jurisdiction, within one's responsibility, or in one's care: We finally got that project off our hands.
on hand
- Present; available: Are there enough people on hand to hold a meeting?
- About to happen; imminent; What is on hand for this evening?
on
/upon (one's) hands
In one's possession, often as an imposed responsibility or burden: Now they have the grandchildren on their hands.
on the one hand
As one point of view; from one standpoint.
on the other hand
As another point of view; from another standpoint.
out of hand
- Out of control: Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.
- At once; immediately.
- Over and done with; finished.
- Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet.
to hand
- Nearby.
- In one's possession.
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