hand
dab hand (dab hands)
[N-COUNT] usu N at n/-ing
In British English, if you are a dab hand at something, you are very good at doing it. (INFORMAL)
She's a dab hand at DIY.dead hand
[N-SING] usu the N of n
You can refer to the dead hand of a particular thing when that thing has a bad or depressing influence on a particular situation. (mainly BRIT)
...the dead hand of bureaucracy.field hand (field hands)
[N-COUNT]
A field hand is someone who is employed to work on a farm. (mainly AM)first hand
also first-hand, firsthand
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books.
School trips give children firsthand experience not available in the classroom.
[ADV] ADV after v
First-hand is also an adverb.
We've been through Germany and seen first-hand what's happening there.
2
at first hand: see firsthand around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand around or hand round something such as food, you pass it from one person to another in a group. (in BRIT, also use hand round)
John handed round the plate of sandwiches...
Dean produced another bottle and handed it round.
= distributehand back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, V n P to n, V n P n (not pron), also V P n to n
If you hand back something that you have borrowed or taken from someone, you return it to them.
The management handed back his few possessions...
He took a saxophone from the Salvation Army but was caught and had to hand it back...
He handed the book back to her...
He unlocked her door and handed her back the key.
= give backhand down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you hand down something such as knowledge, a possession, or a skill, you give or leave it to people who belong to a younger generation.
The idea of handing down his knowledge from generation to generation is important to McLean.
= pass on
2 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a particular decision is handed down by someone in authority, it is given by them. (JOURNALISM)
Tougher sentences are being handed down these days...
She is expected soon to hand down a ruling.hand gre|nade (hand grenades)
[N-COUNT]
A hand grenade is the same as a grenade.hand in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand in something such as homework or something that you have found, you give it to a teacher, police officer, or other person in authority.
I'm supposed to have handed in a first draft of my dissertation...
My advice to anyone who finds anything on a bus is to hand it in to the police.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you hand in your notice or resignation, you tell your employer, in speech or in writing, that you no longer wish to work for them.
I handed my notice in on Saturday...
All eighty opposition members of parliament have handed in their resignation.hand lug|gage
[N-UNCOUNT]
When you travel by air, your hand luggage is the luggage you have with you in the plane, rather than the luggage that is carried in the hold.hand on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), be V-ed P to n
If you hand something on, you give it or transfer it to another person, often someone who replaces you.
The government is criticised for not handing on information about missing funds...
His chauffeur-driven car and company mobile phone will be handed on to his successor.
= pass onhand out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you hand things out to people, you give one or more to each person in a group.
One of my jobs was to hand out the prizes...
= give out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
When people in authority hand out something such as advice or permission to do something, they give it.
I listened to a lot of people handing out a lot of advice...
3
see also handouthand over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand something over to someone, you pass it to them.
He also handed over a letter of apology from the Prime Minister...
`I've got his card.' Judith said, handing it over.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P to n
When you hand over someone such as a prisoner to someone else, you give the control of and responsibility for them to that other person.
They would just catch the robbers and hand them over to the police...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V n P to n, also V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you hand over to someone or hand something over to them, you give them the responsibility for dealing with a particular situation or problem.
The present leaders have to decide whether to stand down and hand over to a younger generation...
I wouldn't dare hand this project over to anyone else...hand round
see hand aroundhand tool (hand tools)
[N-COUNT]
Hand tools are fairly simple tools which you use with your hands, and which are usually not powered.♦♦♦ hand1 /h'ænd/ (hand hands) NOUN USES AND PHRASES
Please look at category 49 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [N-COUNT]
Your hands are the parts of your body at the end of your arms. Each hand has four fingers and a thumb.
I put my hand into my pocket and pulled out the letter...
Sylvia, camera in hand, asked, `Where do we go first?'
2 [N-SING] with poss
The hand of someone or something is their influence in an event or situation.
The hand of the military authorities can be seen in the entire electoral process...
3 [N-PLURAL] usu in/into N
If you say that something is in a particular person's hands, you mean that they are looking after it, own it, or are responsible for it.
He is leaving his north London business in the hands of a colleague...
We're in safe hands...
4 [N-SING] a N, oft N with n
If you ask someone for a hand with something, you are asking them to help you in what you are doing.
Come and give me a hand in the garden...
5 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A hand is someone, usually a man, who does hard physical work, for example in a factory or on a farm, as part of a group of people who all do similar work.
He now works as a farm hand...
6 [N-SING] a N
If someone asks an audience to give someone a hand, they are asking the audience to clap loudly, usually before or after that person performs.
Let's give 'em a big hand.
7 [N-COUNT] usu sing, poss N, oft N in n
If a man asks for a woman's hand in marriage, he asks her or her parents for permission to marry her. (OLD-FASHIONED)
He came to ask Usha's father for her hand in marriage.
8 [N-COUNT]
In a game of cards, your hand is the set of cards that you are holding in your hand at a particular time or the cards that are dealt to you at the beginning of the game.
He carefully inspected his hand.
9 [N-COUNT] usu num N
A hand is a measurement of four inches, which is used for measuring the height of a horse from its front feet to its shoulders.
I had a very good 14.2 hands pony, called Brandy.
10 [N-COUNT]
The hands of a clock or watch are the thin pieces of metal or plastic that indicate what time it is.
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If something is at hand, near at hand, or close at hand, it is very near in place or time.
Having the right equipment at hand will be enormously helpful...
12 [PREP-PHRASE] PREP n
If someone experiences a particular kind of treatment, especially unpleasant treatment, at the hands of a person or organization, they receive it from them.
The civilian population were suffering greatly at the hands of the security forces.
13 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you do something by hand, you do it using your hands rather than a machine.
Each pleat was stitched in place by hand.
= manually
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
When something changes hands, its ownership changes, usually because it is sold to someone else.
The firm has changed hands many times over the years.
15 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you have someone eating out of your hand, they are completely under your control.
Parker could have customers eating out of his hand.
16 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you force someone's hand, you force them to act sooner than they want to, or to act in public when they would prefer to keep their actions secret.
He blamed the press for forcing his hand.
17 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR with n
If you have your hands full with something, you are very busy because of it.
She had her hands full with new arrivals.
18 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If someone gives you a free hand, they give you the freedom to use your own judgment and to do exactly as you wish.
He gave Stephanie a free hand in the decoration.
19 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you get your hands on something or lay your hands on something, you manage to find it or obtain it, usually after some difficulty. (INFORMAL)
Patty began reading everything she could get her hands on.
20 [PHRASE] usu PHR with n
If you work hand in glove with someone, you work very closely with them.
The UN inspectors work hand in glove with the Western intelligence agencies.
21 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, PHR with cl
If two people are hand in hand, they are holding each other's nearest hand, usually while they are walking or sitting together. People often do this to show their affection for each other.
I saw them making their way, hand in hand, down the path.
22 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR with n
If two things go hand in hand, they are closely connected and cannot be considered separately from each other.
For us, research and teaching go hand in hand...
23 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you have a hand in something such as an event or activity, you are involved in it.
He thanked all who had a hand in his release.
24 [PHRASE] usu with PHR
If you say that someone such as the ruler of a country treats people with a heavy hand, you are criticizing them because they are very strict and severe with them.
Henry and Richard both ruled with a heavy hand.
25 [PHRASE] V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n
If two people are holding hands, they are holding each other's nearest hand, usually while they are walking or sitting together. People often do this to show their affection for each other.
She approached a young couple holding hands on a bench.
26 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you ask someone to hold your hand at an event that you are worried about, you ask them to support you by being there with you. (INFORMAL)
I don't need anyone to hold my hand.
27 [PHRASE] n PHR
In a competition, if someone has games or matches in hand, they have more games or matches left to play than their opponent and therefore have the possibility of scoring more points. (BRIT)
Wales are three points behind Romania in the group but have a game in hand.
28 [PHRASE] usu with amount PHR
If you have time or money in hand, you have more time or money than you need. (BRIT)
Hughes finished with 15 seconds in hand.
29 [PHRASE] n PHR, v-link PHR
The job or problem in hand is the job or problem that you are dealing with at the moment.
The business in hand was approaching some kind of climax.
30 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If a situation is in hand, it is under control.
The Olympic organisers say that matters are well in hand.
31 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you lend someone a hand, you help them.
I'd be glad to lend a hand.
32 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you tell someone to keep their hands off something or to take their hands off it, you are telling them in a rather aggressive way not to touch it or interfere with it.
Keep your hands off my milk.
33 [PHRASE] usu with brd-neg, PHR after v
If you do not know something off hand, you do not know it without having to ask someone else or look it up in a book. (SPOKEN)
I can't think of any off hand.
34 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you have a problem or responsibility on your hands, you have to deal with it. If it is off your hands, you no longer have to deal with it.
They now have yet another drug problem on their hands...
She would like the worry of dealing with her affairs taken off her hands.
35 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If someone or something is on hand, they are near and able to be used if they are needed.
The Bridal Department will have experts on hand to give you all the help and advice you need...
= available
36 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use on the one hand to introduce the first of two contrasting points, facts, or ways of looking at something. It is always followed later by on the other hand or `on the other'.
On the one hand, if the body doesn't have enough cholesterol, we would not be able to survive. On the other hand, if the body has too much cholesterol, the excess begins to line the arteries.
37 [PHRASE]
You use on the other hand to introduce the second of two contrasting points, facts, or ways of looking at something.
Well, all right, hospitals lose money. But, on the other hand, if people are healthy, don't think of it as losing money; think of it as saving lives.
38 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If a person or a situation gets out of hand, you are no longer able to control them.
His drinking had got out of hand.
39 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you dismiss or reject something out of hand, you do so immediately and do not consider believing or accepting it.
I initially dismissed the idea out of hand.
40 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you play into someone's hands, you do something which they want you to do and which places you in their power. (JOURNALISM)
He is playing into the hands of racists.
41 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you show your hand, you show how much power you have and the way you intend to act.
He has grown more serious about running for president, although he refuses to show his hand.
42 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take something or someone in hand, you take control or responsibility over them, especially in order to improve them.
I hope that Parliament will soon take the NHS in hand...
43 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that your hands are tied, you mean that something is preventing you from acting in the way that you want to.
Politicians are always saying that they want to help us but their hands are tied...
44 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you have something to hand or near to hand, you have it with you or near you, ready to use when needed.
You may want to keep this brochure safe, so you have it to hand whenever you may need it.
45 [PHRASE] V and N inflect, usu PHR at n/-ing
If you try your hand at an activity, you attempt to do it, usually for the first time.
After he left school, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs-bricklayer, cinema usher, coal man.
46 [PHRASE] V and N inflect, PHR n
If you turn your hand to something such as a practical activity, you learn about it and do it for the first time.
...a person who can turn his hand to anything.
47 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you wash your hands of someone or something, you refuse to be involved with them any more or to take responsibility for them.
He seems to have washed his hands of the job.
48 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you win hands down, you win very easily.
49
with one's bare hands: see bare
to overplay one's hand: see overplay
to shake someone's hand: see shake
to shake hands: see shake
see also hand-to-mouth♦♦ hand2 /h'ænd/ (hand hands handing handed) VERB USES
1 [VERB] V n n, V n to n
If you hand something to someone, you pass it to them.
He handed me a little rectangle of white paper...
He took a thick envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to me.
2 [PHRASE]
You say things such as `You have to hand it to her' or `You've got to hand it to them' when you admire someone for their skills or achievements and you think they deserve a lot of praise. (INFORMAL)
You've got to hand it to Melissa, she certainly gets around.old hand (old hands)
[N-COUNT] oft N at n
If someone is an old hand at something, they are very skilled at it because they have been doing it for a long time.
An old hand at photography, Tim has been shooting wildlife as a hobby for the last 13 years.
= veteran
≠ novicesleight of hand /sl'aɪt əv h'ænd/ (sleights of hand)
[N-VAR]
Sleight of hand is the deceiving of someone in a skilful way.
He accused Mr MacGregor of `sleight of hand'.
[N-COUNT] usu N at n/-ing
In British English, if you are a dab hand at something, you are very good at doing it. (INFORMAL)
She's a dab hand at DIY.dead hand
[N-SING] usu the N of n
You can refer to the dead hand of a particular thing when that thing has a bad or depressing influence on a particular situation. (mainly BRIT)
...the dead hand of bureaucracy.field hand (field hands)
[N-COUNT]
A field hand is someone who is employed to work on a farm. (mainly AM)first hand
also first-hand, firsthand
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books.
School trips give children firsthand experience not available in the classroom.
[ADV] ADV after v
First-hand is also an adverb.
We've been through Germany and seen first-hand what's happening there.
2
at first hand: see firsthand around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand around or hand round something such as food, you pass it from one person to another in a group. (in BRIT, also use hand round)
John handed round the plate of sandwiches...
Dean produced another bottle and handed it round.
= distributehand back
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, V n P to n, V n P n (not pron), also V P n to n
If you hand back something that you have borrowed or taken from someone, you return it to them.
The management handed back his few possessions...
He took a saxophone from the Salvation Army but was caught and had to hand it back...
He handed the book back to her...
He unlocked her door and handed her back the key.
= give backhand down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you hand down something such as knowledge, a possession, or a skill, you give or leave it to people who belong to a younger generation.
The idea of handing down his knowledge from generation to generation is important to McLean.
= pass on
2 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
When a particular decision is handed down by someone in authority, it is given by them. (JOURNALISM)
Tougher sentences are being handed down these days...
She is expected soon to hand down a ruling.hand gre|nade (hand grenades)
[N-COUNT]
A hand grenade is the same as a grenade.hand in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand in something such as homework or something that you have found, you give it to a teacher, police officer, or other person in authority.
I'm supposed to have handed in a first draft of my dissertation...
My advice to anyone who finds anything on a bus is to hand it in to the police.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you hand in your notice or resignation, you tell your employer, in speech or in writing, that you no longer wish to work for them.
I handed my notice in on Saturday...
All eighty opposition members of parliament have handed in their resignation.hand lug|gage
[N-UNCOUNT]
When you travel by air, your hand luggage is the luggage you have with you in the plane, rather than the luggage that is carried in the hold.hand on
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), be V-ed P to n
If you hand something on, you give it or transfer it to another person, often someone who replaces you.
The government is criticised for not handing on information about missing funds...
His chauffeur-driven car and company mobile phone will be handed on to his successor.
= pass onhand out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you hand things out to people, you give one or more to each person in a group.
One of my jobs was to hand out the prizes...
= give out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
When people in authority hand out something such as advice or permission to do something, they give it.
I listened to a lot of people handing out a lot of advice...
3
see also handouthand over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you hand something over to someone, you pass it to them.
He also handed over a letter of apology from the Prime Minister...
`I've got his card.' Judith said, handing it over.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P to n
When you hand over someone such as a prisoner to someone else, you give the control of and responsibility for them to that other person.
They would just catch the robbers and hand them over to the police...
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V n P to n, also V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you hand over to someone or hand something over to them, you give them the responsibility for dealing with a particular situation or problem.
The present leaders have to decide whether to stand down and hand over to a younger generation...
I wouldn't dare hand this project over to anyone else...hand round
see hand aroundhand tool (hand tools)
[N-COUNT]
Hand tools are fairly simple tools which you use with your hands, and which are usually not powered.♦♦♦ hand1 /h'ænd/ (hand hands) NOUN USES AND PHRASES
Please look at category 49 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [N-COUNT]
Your hands are the parts of your body at the end of your arms. Each hand has four fingers and a thumb.
I put my hand into my pocket and pulled out the letter...
Sylvia, camera in hand, asked, `Where do we go first?'
2 [N-SING] with poss
The hand of someone or something is their influence in an event or situation.
The hand of the military authorities can be seen in the entire electoral process...
3 [N-PLURAL] usu in/into N
If you say that something is in a particular person's hands, you mean that they are looking after it, own it, or are responsible for it.
He is leaving his north London business in the hands of a colleague...
We're in safe hands...
4 [N-SING] a N, oft N with n
If you ask someone for a hand with something, you are asking them to help you in what you are doing.
Come and give me a hand in the garden...
5 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A hand is someone, usually a man, who does hard physical work, for example in a factory or on a farm, as part of a group of people who all do similar work.
He now works as a farm hand...
6 [N-SING] a N
If someone asks an audience to give someone a hand, they are asking the audience to clap loudly, usually before or after that person performs.
Let's give 'em a big hand.
7 [N-COUNT] usu sing, poss N, oft N in n
If a man asks for a woman's hand in marriage, he asks her or her parents for permission to marry her. (OLD-FASHIONED)
He came to ask Usha's father for her hand in marriage.
8 [N-COUNT]
In a game of cards, your hand is the set of cards that you are holding in your hand at a particular time or the cards that are dealt to you at the beginning of the game.
He carefully inspected his hand.
9 [N-COUNT] usu num N
A hand is a measurement of four inches, which is used for measuring the height of a horse from its front feet to its shoulders.
I had a very good 14.2 hands pony, called Brandy.
10 [N-COUNT]
The hands of a clock or watch are the thin pieces of metal or plastic that indicate what time it is.
11 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If something is at hand, near at hand, or close at hand, it is very near in place or time.
Having the right equipment at hand will be enormously helpful...
12 [PREP-PHRASE] PREP n
If someone experiences a particular kind of treatment, especially unpleasant treatment, at the hands of a person or organization, they receive it from them.
The civilian population were suffering greatly at the hands of the security forces.
13 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you do something by hand, you do it using your hands rather than a machine.
Each pleat was stitched in place by hand.
= manually
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
When something changes hands, its ownership changes, usually because it is sold to someone else.
The firm has changed hands many times over the years.
15 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you have someone eating out of your hand, they are completely under your control.
Parker could have customers eating out of his hand.
16 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you force someone's hand, you force them to act sooner than they want to, or to act in public when they would prefer to keep their actions secret.
He blamed the press for forcing his hand.
17 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR with n
If you have your hands full with something, you are very busy because of it.
She had her hands full with new arrivals.
18 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If someone gives you a free hand, they give you the freedom to use your own judgment and to do exactly as you wish.
He gave Stephanie a free hand in the decoration.
19 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you get your hands on something or lay your hands on something, you manage to find it or obtain it, usually after some difficulty. (INFORMAL)
Patty began reading everything she could get her hands on.
20 [PHRASE] usu PHR with n
If you work hand in glove with someone, you work very closely with them.
The UN inspectors work hand in glove with the Western intelligence agencies.
21 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, PHR with cl
If two people are hand in hand, they are holding each other's nearest hand, usually while they are walking or sitting together. People often do this to show their affection for each other.
I saw them making their way, hand in hand, down the path.
22 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, v-link PHR, oft PHR with n
If two things go hand in hand, they are closely connected and cannot be considered separately from each other.
For us, research and teaching go hand in hand...
23 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you have a hand in something such as an event or activity, you are involved in it.
He thanked all who had a hand in his release.
24 [PHRASE] usu with PHR
If you say that someone such as the ruler of a country treats people with a heavy hand, you are criticizing them because they are very strict and severe with them.
Henry and Richard both ruled with a heavy hand.
25 [PHRASE] V inflects, pl-n PHR, PHR with n
If two people are holding hands, they are holding each other's nearest hand, usually while they are walking or sitting together. People often do this to show their affection for each other.
She approached a young couple holding hands on a bench.
26 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you ask someone to hold your hand at an event that you are worried about, you ask them to support you by being there with you. (INFORMAL)
I don't need anyone to hold my hand.
27 [PHRASE] n PHR
In a competition, if someone has games or matches in hand, they have more games or matches left to play than their opponent and therefore have the possibility of scoring more points. (BRIT)
Wales are three points behind Romania in the group but have a game in hand.
28 [PHRASE] usu with amount PHR
If you have time or money in hand, you have more time or money than you need. (BRIT)
Hughes finished with 15 seconds in hand.
29 [PHRASE] n PHR, v-link PHR
The job or problem in hand is the job or problem that you are dealing with at the moment.
The business in hand was approaching some kind of climax.
30 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If a situation is in hand, it is under control.
The Olympic organisers say that matters are well in hand.
31 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you lend someone a hand, you help them.
I'd be glad to lend a hand.
32 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you tell someone to keep their hands off something or to take their hands off it, you are telling them in a rather aggressive way not to touch it or interfere with it.
Keep your hands off my milk.
33 [PHRASE] usu with brd-neg, PHR after v
If you do not know something off hand, you do not know it without having to ask someone else or look it up in a book. (SPOKEN)
I can't think of any off hand.
34 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you have a problem or responsibility on your hands, you have to deal with it. If it is off your hands, you no longer have to deal with it.
They now have yet another drug problem on their hands...
She would like the worry of dealing with her affairs taken off her hands.
35 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If someone or something is on hand, they are near and able to be used if they are needed.
The Bridal Department will have experts on hand to give you all the help and advice you need...
= available
36 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use on the one hand to introduce the first of two contrasting points, facts, or ways of looking at something. It is always followed later by on the other hand or `on the other'.
On the one hand, if the body doesn't have enough cholesterol, we would not be able to survive. On the other hand, if the body has too much cholesterol, the excess begins to line the arteries.
37 [PHRASE]
You use on the other hand to introduce the second of two contrasting points, facts, or ways of looking at something.
Well, all right, hospitals lose money. But, on the other hand, if people are healthy, don't think of it as losing money; think of it as saving lives.
38 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If a person or a situation gets out of hand, you are no longer able to control them.
His drinking had got out of hand.
39 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you dismiss or reject something out of hand, you do so immediately and do not consider believing or accepting it.
I initially dismissed the idea out of hand.
40 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you play into someone's hands, you do something which they want you to do and which places you in their power. (JOURNALISM)
He is playing into the hands of racists.
41 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you show your hand, you show how much power you have and the way you intend to act.
He has grown more serious about running for president, although he refuses to show his hand.
42 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take something or someone in hand, you take control or responsibility over them, especially in order to improve them.
I hope that Parliament will soon take the NHS in hand...
43 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that your hands are tied, you mean that something is preventing you from acting in the way that you want to.
Politicians are always saying that they want to help us but their hands are tied...
44 [PHRASE] PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you have something to hand or near to hand, you have it with you or near you, ready to use when needed.
You may want to keep this brochure safe, so you have it to hand whenever you may need it.
45 [PHRASE] V and N inflect, usu PHR at n/-ing
If you try your hand at an activity, you attempt to do it, usually for the first time.
After he left school, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs-bricklayer, cinema usher, coal man.
46 [PHRASE] V and N inflect, PHR n
If you turn your hand to something such as a practical activity, you learn about it and do it for the first time.
...a person who can turn his hand to anything.
47 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you wash your hands of someone or something, you refuse to be involved with them any more or to take responsibility for them.
He seems to have washed his hands of the job.
48 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you win hands down, you win very easily.
49
with one's bare hands: see bare
to overplay one's hand: see overplay
to shake someone's hand: see shake
to shake hands: see shake
see also hand-to-mouth♦♦ hand2 /h'ænd/ (hand hands handing handed) VERB USES
1 [VERB] V n n, V n to n
If you hand something to someone, you pass it to them.
He handed me a little rectangle of white paper...
He took a thick envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to me.
2 [PHRASE]
You say things such as `You have to hand it to her' or `You've got to hand it to them' when you admire someone for their skills or achievements and you think they deserve a lot of praise. (INFORMAL)
You've got to hand it to Melissa, she certainly gets around.old hand (old hands)
[N-COUNT] oft N at n
If someone is an old hand at something, they are very skilled at it because they have been doing it for a long time.
An old hand at photography, Tim has been shooting wildlife as a hobby for the last 13 years.
= veteran
≠ novicesleight of hand /sl'aɪt əv h'ænd/ (sleights of hand)
[N-VAR]
Sleight of hand is the deceiving of someone in a skilful way.
He accused Mr MacGregor of `sleight of hand'.