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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

at the hand of

or at the hands of

through the action of

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 glove

or hand and glove

in intimate association; in close agreement or cooperation

hand in hand

holding each other's hand
together; in cooperation or correlation

hand it to

Slang 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

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What does "hand" mean?

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