hand */*/*/

I UK [hænd] / US noun
Word forms "hand":
singular hand plural hands

1) [countable] the part of your body at the end of each arm that you use for picking up and holding things

Mrs Bennet put her hands over her ears to shut out the noise.

have/hold something in your hand:

He was holding a mug of coffee in his left hand.

hold someone's hand:

He sat by the bed and held her hand.

hold hands (= hold each other's hands):

The park was full of young couples holding hands.

take someone by the hand:

George took her by the hand and helped her out of the car.

hand in hand (= holding each other's hand):

They walked along the cliff top hand in hand.

shake hands:

The two men introduced themselves and shook hands.

2) [countable] someone who does physical work

a) someone who works on a farm

It was a large farm, with over 20 hired hands.

b) someone who works on a ship

3) [singular] help

give someone a hand (= help someone):

Can you give me a hand with these boxes?

like/want/need a hand:

Would you like a hand with the cleaning up?

lend a hand (= help):

Lydia lent a hand (= helped) with the costumes.

4) [singular] if people give someone a hand, they clap their hands to show that they have enjoyed a performance

a big hand for someone:

A big hand for the band, ladies and gentlemen!

give someone a big hand:

Let's give the children a big hand.

5) [countable] the particular set of cards that have been given to you in a game of cards

6) [singular] informal the advantages you have that give you a chance to be successful in a particular situation

play your hand (= use your advantages):

Everything depends on how the company plays its hand.

See:

show I

7) [countable] the hands on a clock are the long parts that move round and show the time

8) [countable] a unit for measuring how tall a horse is

9) [countable] mainly literary someone's handwriting

The manuscript was written in the author's own hand.

•

first/second/third hand — if you experience something first hand, you experience it yourself. If you experience something second hand or third hand, someone else tells you about it.

get/lay your hands on something — to manage to obtain something

I couldn't lay my hands on a copy of the book.

have someone/something on your hands — to have a person or a problem that you must deal with

It looks as though we're going to have a lawsuit on our hands.

on the one hand ... on the other hand — used for giving two different opinions about something

Many of these garden pests cause little real damage. On the other hand, aphids can infect raspberries with incurable diseases.

On the one hand, expansion would be good, but on the other hand it would be sad to lose the family atmosphere.

on (your) hands and knees — on the floor, with your hands and your lower legs on the ground

take/get your hands off — informal to stop touching someone or something

- at hand

- at the hands of someone

- by hand

- go hand in hand

- hand in glove

- someone's hand in marriage

- hand over fist

- someone's hands are tied

- hands off

- hands up

- have a hand in something

- have time on your hands

- have your hands full

- in hand

- in someone's hands

- keep your hand in

- keep your hands off

- off your hands

- out of hand

- out of your hands

- take someone in hand

- to hand

- turn your hand to something

See:

deck I, eat, force II, hands down, live I, offhand I, pump I, upper I

II UK [hænd] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "hand":
present tense I/you/we/they hand he/she/it hands present participle handing past tense handed past participle handed

to give something to someone by holding it in your hand and offering it to them

hand something to someone:

Talbot handed the paper to the man.

hand someone something:

Sarah handed me an envelope.

•

- you have to hand it to someone

Phrasal verbs:

- hand back

- hand down

- hand in

- hand on

- hand out

- hand over

- hand round