631
hands off
hand·bill /'hænd,bɪl/ n a small printed notice or advertise-
ment to be given out by hand
hand·book /'hændbʊk/ n a short book giving all the most
important information about a subject: a handbook of
roadsigns | a tourist handbook → compare MANUAL
hand·brake /'hændbreɪk/ n an apparatus (BRAKE) that stops
a vehicle, worked by the driver's hand, not by the foot → see
picture at CAR
handbrake turn n BrE the action of making a car turn
around suddenly by putting on the handbrake when the car
is moving quickly, making the back wheels SKID. Handbrake
turns are dangerous and are typically done by people who
have stolen cars.
hand·car /'hændkɑːr/ n AmE a railway vehicle operated by
large handles pushed up and down which cause the wheels
to turn
hand·cart /'hændkɑːt||-kɑːrt/ n a small cart which can be
pushed or pulled by hand
hand·clap /'hændklæp/ n a clapping (CLAP) action of the
hands → see also SLOW HANDCLAP
hand cream n [U] a substance which is rubbed into the
hands to keep them soft and to prevent the skin from
cracking
hand·cuff /'hændkʌf/ v [T] to put handcuffs on (someone)
hand·cuffs /'hændkʌfs/ n [P] a pair of metal rings joined
together by a short chain and fastened with a key, for
holding together the wrists of a prisoner
Han·del, George Fred·er·ick /'hændl, ʤɔː
'fredərɪk||ˈʤɔːrʤ-/ (1685-1759) a British COMPOSER, born in
Germany, noted for his ORATORIOS, such as the Messiah, and
his ORCHESTRAL music, particularly his Water Music and
Music for the Royal Fireworks
hand·ful /'hændfʊl/ n 1 [C(of)] an amount which is as much
as can easily be held in the hand: a handful of nuts/of small
change 2 [C(of)] a small number (of people): We invited 30
people, but only a handful (of them) came. 3 [S] infml a person
or thing that is so active that it is difficult to control: That
child is quite a handful/Those children are quite a handful.
hand gre,nade n a small bomb that you throw
hand·gun /'hændgʌn/ n especially AmE a small gun held in one
hand while firing, not raised against the shoulder; a PISTOL →
compare RIFLE
hand·held /'hændheld/ n a PDA
hand·hold /'hændhəʊld/ n a part of something that you can
hold onto when climbing it
hand·i·cap¹ /'hændɪkæp/ n 1 a) a disability of the body or
mind that causes a person serious difficulty: Blindness is a
great handicap. b) any condition or situation likely to
cause disadvantage or difficulty: Not being able to drive is
quite a handicap if you live in the country. 2 (in a race or
other sport or game) a disadvantage given to the stronger
competitors, such as carrying more weight or starting from a
worse position: a three-stroke handicap in golf
handicap² v -pp- [T] 1 (of a quality or situation) to cause
(someone) to have a disadvantage: We were handicapped by
lack of money. 2 [usually pass.] (of a physical or MENTAL
disability) to prevent (someone) from acting and living as
most people do
hand·i·capped /'hændɪkæpt/ adj having a disability of the
body or mind: physically handicapped | [also n, the+P] a special
school for the mentally handicapped (=for people who are
mentally handicapped)
hand·i·craft /'hændɪkrɑːft||-kræft/ also craft n [usually pl.] a
skill needing careful use of the hands, such as sewing,
weaving, making baskets etc
hand·i·work /'hændɪwɜːk||-wɜːrk/ n [U] 1 work demand-
ing the skilful use of the hands: an exhibition of handiwork
by the schoolchildren 2 the result, especially the undesirable
result, of someone's action or efforts: This explosion looks
like the handiwork of terrorists.
hand job n taboo slang an act of MASTURBATION, especially
when performed on another person
hand·ker·chief /'hæŋkətʃɪf||-kər-/ pl. -chiefs or -chieves
/tʃiːvz/ n a piece of cloth or thin soft paper for drying the
nose, eyes etc: a paper handkerchief
han·dle¹ /'hændl/ n 1 a part of an object which is specially
made for holding it or for opening it: a door handle | Pick up
the typewriter case by the handle. 2 old-fash infml a title or a
name, especially one that sounds important 3 infml the
call-sign of a CB user → see also fly off the handle (FLY¹)
handle² v 1 [T] a) to pick up, touch, or feel with the hands:
Customers are asked not to handle the goods in the shop. b)
to move by hand: Glass – handle with care! (a notice on a
box) 2 [T] to deal with; control: It was a difficult situation
and he handled it very well. | She really knows how to handle
a fast car! 3 [T] to have responsibility for; be in charge of:
Ms Brown handles the company's accounts. 4 [T] to treat;
behave towards: He's not a very good teacher – he doesn't
know how to handle children. 5 [T] to buy, sell, or deal with
(goods or services) in business or trade: We don't handle that
sort of book. | The dockers refused to handle South African
imports. | a handling charge (=money charged for selling or
dealing with goods) 6 [I+adv/prep] (of a car, boat etc) to obey
controlling movements in the stated way: The boat handles
well, even in rough weather.
handlebar mous'tache/'l.....'.../ n a long heavy MOUS-
TACHE which curves upwards at both ends
CULTURAL NOTE This kind of moustache was especially
popular with men in the British airforce in the World War II.
han·dle·bars /'hændlbɑːz||-bɑːrz/ n [P] the usually curved
bar above the front wheel of a bicycle or motorcycle, which
controls the direction it goes in → see picture at BICYCLE
han·dler /'hændlər/ n a person who controls an animal: a
dog handler
hand·loom /'hændluːm/ n a small machine (a LOOM) for
weaving by hand
'hand luggage n [U] a traveller's light or small bags, cases
etc, which can be carried by hand: You can take your hand
luggage with you on the plane.
hand·made /ˌhænd'meɪd/ adj made by hand, not machine:
These shoes were expensive, but they're handmade.
hand·maid·en /'hænd,meɪdn/ also hand·maid
/'hændmeɪd/ n old use a female servant
'hand·me, down also reach-me-down BrE — n [usually pl.]
a garment used by one person after it has belonged to
another usually older person: wearing my big brother's
hand-me-downs | hand-me-down clothes
hand·out /'hændaʊt/ n 1 something given free, such as
food, clothes etc, especially to someone poor 2 information
given out, e.g. to students attending a talk especially in the
form of a printed sheet: Please read the handout carefully. →
see also HAND OUT
hand·o·ver /'hændəʊvər/ n an act of passing something,
especially power or responsibility, from one person or group
to another; TRANSFER: the handover of power to the new
government → see also HAND OVER
hand·picked /ˌhænd'pɪkt/ adj (especially of a person or
people) chosen with great care, usually for a special purpose:
a handpicked audience | a squad of handpicked commandos
hand·rail /'hænd-reɪl/ n a bar of wood or metal that is fixed
beside a place where people walk for holding onto, espe-
cially near stairs → compare BANISTER, RAILING
hands 'down adv AmE easily; without effort: The Bulls beat
the Lakers hands down last night.
hand·set /'hændset/ n 1 the part of a telephone that you
hold near your ear and mouth 2 the part of a MOBILE PHONE
that you hold in your hand
'hands-free adj [A] a hands-free machine is one that you can
use without using your hands: a hands-free phone
hand·shake /'hændʃeɪk/ n 1 an act of taking each other's
right hand when two people meet or leave each other → see
also GOLDEN HANDSHAKE
CULTURAL NOTE FREEMASONS are said to have a special
kind of handshake, and this is sometimes mentioned in
stories and jokes.
2 the way a person does this: I like a man with a firm
handshake.
hands 'off interj don't touch: (fig.) 'Hands off the unions!' the
strikers shouted.