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hand `noun` [ hand ]

• the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb.

• "he was leading her by the hand"

Similar: fist, palm, paw, mitt, duke, hook, meat hook, nieve, manus, metacarpus,

Opposite: foot,

• a pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of time.

• "the second hand"

Similar: pointer, indicator, needle, arrow, marker, index,

• used in reference to the power to direct something.

• "the day-to-day running of the house was in her hands"

Similar: control, power, charge, authority, command, responsibility, guardianship, management, care, supervision, jurisdiction, possession, keeping, custody, clutches, grasp, disposal, say-so, thrall,

• a person's workmanship, especially in artistic work.

• "his idiosyncratic hand"

• a person who engages in manual labour, especially in a factory, on a farm, or on board a ship.

• "a factory hand"

Similar: worker, factory worker, manual worker, unskilled worker, blue-collar worker, workman, workwoman, workperson, working man, labourer, operative, hired hand, hireling, roustabout, employee, artisan, farmhand, farm worker, field hand, crewman, sailor, deckhand, peon, rouseabout, mazdoor, khalasi, mechanical,

• the set of cards dealt to a player in a card game.

• "he's got a good hand"

• a unit of measurement of a horse's height, equal to 4 inches (10.16 cm).

• a bunch of bananas.

• "mottled hands of bananas"

hand `verb`

• pick (something) up and give it to (someone).

• "he handed each man a glass"

Similar: pass, give, reach, let someone have, throw, toss, pass to, hand over to, deliver to, present to, transfer to, convey to, chuck, bung,

Opposite: take away from,

• hold the hand of (someone) in order to guide them in a specified direction.

• "he handed them into the carriage"

Similar: assist, help, aid, give someone a hand, give someone a helping hand, give someone assistance, guide, convey, conduct, lead,

• take in or furl (a sail).

• "hand in the main!"

Origin: Old English hand, hond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hand and German Hand .

all hands on deck

• a cry or signal used on board ship, typically in an emergency, to indicate that all crew members are to go on deck.

all hands to the pump

• an order to every member of a ship's crew to pump water from the ship in an emergency.

at hand

• close by.
"a mortar burst close at hand"

at the hands of

• done or caused by.
"he will undergo tests at the hands of a senior neurologist"

bind someone hand and foot

• tie someone's hands and feet together.

by hand

• by a person and not a machine.
"the crop has to be harvested by hand"

by the hands of

• done or caused by.
"his death by the hands of his wife's lover is reported in the Odyssey"

cap in hand

• humbly asking for a favour.
"we have to go cap in hand begging for funds"

get one's hand in

• become practised in something.
"he had had two years to get his hand in before the actual outbreak of war"

get one's hands on

• find or get something.
"I haven't got my hands on a copy yet"

give someone a hand

• help someone in an action or enterprise.
"can you give me a hand with these bags?"

hand in glove

• in close collusion or association.
"they were working hand in glove with our enemies"

hand in hand

• (of two people) with hands joined, especially as a mark of affection.
"I walked hand in hand with my father"

hand someone something on a plate

• make something very easily obtainable for someone.
"it was a win handed to him on a plate"

the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

• the person who raises a child determines the character of that child and so influences the type of society that the next generation will create.

hands down

• easily and decisively.
"Swindon won hands down"

hands off!

• used as a warning not to touch or interfere with something.
"hands off that cake!"

hand over fist

• very rapidly.
"we were making money hand over fist"

hands up!

• used as an instruction to raise one's hands in surrender or to signify assent or participation.
"hands up who saw the programme!"

have a hand in something

• be involved in doing something.
"the girls had a hand in writing the lyrics"

have one's hands full

• have as much work as one can do.
"I can't do the job—I've got my hands full at my desk"

have one's hands tied

• be unable to act freely.
"he cannot have his hands tied on how his department's money is spent"

have to hand it to someone

• used to acknowledge the merit or achievement of someone.
"I've got to hand it to you—you've got the magic touch"

in hand

• receiving or requiring immediate attention.
"he threw himself into the work in hand"

in safe hands

• protected by or in the care of someone trustworthy.
"the future of the cathedral is in safe hands"

keep one's hand in

• maintain a level of skill or ability in something by practising or engaging in an activity.
"I also did a bit of book reviewing to keep my hand in"

lay one's hands on

• find or get something.
"I read everything I could lay my hands on"

lend a hand

• assist in an action or enterprise.
"he was a kind and considerate neighbour who was always there to lend a hand in times of need"

many hands make light work

• a task is soon accomplished if several people help.

not do a hand's turn

• do no work at all.
"they sit there without doing a hand's turn"

off someone's hands

• not having to be dealt with or looked after by the person specified.
"they just want the problem off their hands"

on every hand

• all around.
"new technologies were springing up on every hand"

on hand

• present, especially for a specified purpose.
"her trainer was on hand to give advice"

on someone's hands

• used to indicate that someone is responsible for dealing with someone or something.
"he has a difficult job on his hands"

on the one hand

• used to introduce a point of view, fact, or situation, followed by another that typically contrasts with it.
"On the one hand, I faced the prospect of losing my day-to-day contact with the kids. On the other, I faced sacrificing my career"

on the other hand

• used to introduce a contrasting point of view, fact, or situation.
"Being a child star is bittersweet. On one hand, you're loved by millions, but on the other hand you're forever remembered for what you did years ago"

out of hand

• not under control.
"things were getting a bit out of hand at the picket line"

put one's hand to

• start work on; undertake.
"she excelled at everything she put her hand to"

the right hand doesn't know what the left hand's doing

• used to convey that there is a state of confusion within a group or organization.

a safe pair of hands

• (in a sporting context) used to refer to someone who is reliable when catching a ball.
"he has a safe pair of hands and made the catch look easy"

stay someone's hand

• restrain someone from acting.
"his feelings made him stay his hand before announcing his decision"

take a hand

• become influential in determining something; intervene.
"fate was about to take a hand in the outcome of the championship"

take someone/something in hand

• deal with or take control of someone or something.
"their parents are incapable of taking their children in hand"

talk to the hand

• used as a contemptuous way of dismissing what someone has said (often accompanied by a gesture in which the palm of the hand is held in front of the original speaker's face).
"talk to the hand, girl, 'cos the face ain't listening"

to hand

• within easy reach.
"have a pen and paper to hand"

turn one's hand to

• undertake (an activity different from one's usual occupation).
"a music teacher who turned his hand to writing books"

wait on someone hand and foot

• attend to all someone's needs or requests, especially when this is regarded as unreasonable.
"I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel, being waited on hand and foot"

with one hand behind one's back

• with serious limitations or restrictions.
"at the moment, the police are tackling record crime rates with one hand behind their back"

hand down

• pass something on to a younger person or a successor.
"songs are handed down from mother to daughter"

hand in

• give something to a person in authority for their attention.
"we handed in a letter of protest"

hand off

• push away a tackling opponent with one's hand.

hand on

• pass something to the next person in a series or succession.
"he had handed on the family farm to his son"

hand out

• give a share of something or one of a set of things to each of a number of people; distribute.
"Ralph handed out cigars"

hand over

• pass responsibility to someone else.
"he will soon hand over to a new director"

hand round

• offer something to each of a number of people in turn.
"a big box of chocolates was handed round"