hand*/*/*/

[hænd] noun I

1) [C] the part of your body at the end of each arm that you use for holding things

Mrs Bennet put her hands over her ears to shut out the noise.[/ex]

The park was full of young couples holding hands (= holding each other's hands).[/ex]

The two men introduced themselves and shook hands.[/ex]

He was holding a mug of coffee in his left hand.[/ex]

2) [singular] help

Would you like a hand with the cleaning up?[/ex]

Lydia lent a hand (= helped) with the costumes.[/ex]

Can you give me a hand (= help me) with these boxes?[/ex]

3) [singular] informal

the advantages that you have in a situation

Everything depends on how the company plays its hand (= uses its advantages).[/ex]

The trick is not to show your hand too early (= let an opponent know what your advantages are).[/ex]

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

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

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

•

at hand — quite close to you and easy to reach[/ex]

Help is always at hand if you need it.[/ex]

I always keep my calculator close at hand.[/ex]

by hand — 1) using your hands rather than a machine; 2) if a letter is delivered by hand, it is not delivered by the post service[/ex]

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.[/ex]

get/lay your hands on sth — to manage to obtain something[/ex]

I couldn't lay my hands on a copy of the book.[/ex]

go hand in hand — to happen or exist together[/ex]

hands off — spoken used for telling someone not to touch or take something[/ex]

hands up — spoken 1) used for asking people to tell you if they know the answer to a question; 2) used for asking people to tell you if they want something[/ex]

have a hand in sth — to help to make something happen[/ex]

have your hands full — to be extremely busy[/ex]

in hand — if something is in hand, you are dealing with it[/ex]

in sb's hands — if something is in someone's hands, they are responsible for it[/ex]

I knew that the dog was in safe hands with my parents.[/ex]

keep your hands off — informal to not touch someone or something[/ex]

off your hands — if something is off your hands, you are no longer responsible for it[/ex]

on hand — 1) if someone is on hand, they are available to help you if you need them; 2) if something is on hand, it is available to be used[/ex]

on the one hand ... on the other hand — used for giving two different opinions about something[/ex]

out of hand — not well controlled[/ex]

We decided to leave before things got out of hand.[/ex]

out of your hands — if something is out of your hands, someone else is now responsible for it[/ex]

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

to hand — British near where you are and therefore available to use[/ex]

See:

force II

II

verb [T]

hand */*/[hænd]

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

Talbot handed the paper to the man.[/ex]

Sarah handed me an envelope.[/ex]

•

- hand sth back

- hand sth down

- hand sth in

- hand sth out

- hand sb over

- hand sth over