hands-off 632
'hands-off adj [A] letting other people act and make deci-
sions, without trying to tell them what to do: a hands-off
management policy
hand·some /'hænsəm/ adj 1 a) (especially of men) good-
looking; of attractive appearance b) (especially of women)
strong-looking; attractive with a firm, large appearance
rather than a delicate one → see BEAUTIFUL (USAGE) and also
tall, dark, and handsome (TALL) 2 large in quantity; PLENTI-
FUL: a handsome reward 3 generous: a handsome gesture/
contribution →-ly adv
,handsome 'prince (often caps.) a character in fairy stories
who sometimes changes from a FROG (=small green water
animal) into a prince or breaks a SPELL then marries the
princess so that the story ends happily: women who are tired
of waiting for their handsome prince → see also FROG PRINCE
'hands-on adj [A] providing or being practical experience of
something, especially of using computers, rather than just
information about it: The computer course includes plenty of
hands-on training.
hand·stand /'hændstænd/ n a movement in which the legs
are kicked into the air so that the body is upside down and
supported on the hands
,hands 'up interj (used by gunmen) Put your arms above your
head!
,hand-to-'hand adj, adv involving physical touching: The
soldiers were engaged in hand-to-hand combat. (=fighting
without guns)
'hand ,towel n a small TOWEL for drying one's hands
hand·wash /'hændwɒʃ||-wɑːʃ, -wɔːʃ/ v [T] to wash a piece
of clothing by hand, not in a washing machine
hand·writ·ing /'hændˌraɪtɪŋ/ n [U] 1 writing done by
hand 2 the style or appearance of handwriting done by a
particular person: very clear handwriting
hand·writ·ten /ˌhænd'rɪtn/ adj written by hand, not
printed
hand·y /'hændi/ adj 1 useful and simple to use: a handy little
gadget for peeling potatoes 2 [(with)] clever in using the
hands: handy with her needle (=good at sewing) 3 [(for)] infml
near; easily reached: The shops are quite handy. | The house is
quite handy for the shops. | Keep a pencil and paper
handy. 4 come in handy to be useful: A few more traveller's
cheques may come in handy on holiday. →-ily adv →-iness n
[U]
Handy, W.C. (1873-1958) a US JAZZ musician and writer of
jazz songs, thought to be the first person to write BLUES
music. He is especially known for his song St Louis Blues.
hand·y·man /'hændimæn/ n pl. -men /mən/ a person who
does repairs and practical jobs well, especially in the house
hang¹ /hæŋ/ v hung /hʌŋ/ 1 [T] to fix (something) at the top
so that the lower part is free: to hang curtains | Hang your
coat (up) on the hook. 2 [+adv/prep] to be in such a position:
Her coat was hanging on the door. | They climbed up a rope
that hung down from the roof. 3 [I;T] (past tense & participle
usually hanged) (to cause to) die, especially in punishment
for a crime, by dropping with a rope around the neck: The
murderer was condemned to be hanged. | He hanged himself
in a fit of remorse. | You'll hang for this! 4 [T usually pass.] to
show (a painting) publicly: His pictures were hung in the
Museum of Modern Art. 5 [T] a) to fix (wallpaper) on a
wall b) to fix (a door) in position on HINGES 6 [I;T] a) (of
certain kinds of meat) to hang until ready to be eaten: Let
the pheasant hang for a few days. b) to cause (certain kinds
of meat) to hang until ready to be eaten: The flavour
improves if you hang it for a few days. 7 [I;T] old-fash infml
(used to express annoyance or a wish that someone will
suffer misfortune, especially in the phrases: I'll be hanged,
Hang it (all!), Go hang!): I'll be hanged if I'll let you insult
my wife! | He can go hang for all I care! 8 hang by a thread
to be in great danger: The sick man's life hung by a
thread. 9 hang fire to be delayed in development; stop
happening or continuing: We're working very hard on the
new house, so our plans for a holiday will have to hang fire for
a time. 10 hang in the balance to be in an uncertain
position in which things may end well or badly: The
government's future now hangs in the balance. 11 hang in
there infml to remain brave or firm in spite of difficul-
ties 12 hang one's head to appear ashamed 13 hang up
one's hat infml to stop doing a habitual activity, especially
one's work: At the age of 60, he hung up his hat and
retired. 14 one may as well be hanged for a sheep as a
lamb infml one may as well do something very wrong if the
punishment for something less serious is just as
severe 15 hang a left/right AmE spoken used in order to tell
someone to turn right or left, usually when driving a car: If
you go past Arco, and then hang a right at the next light,
you'll see the sign. | Go out the door and hang a left. You'll see
the restaurant across the street.
hang about || hang around AmE — phr v BrE infml 1 [I;T(= hang
about sthg.) also hang around —] to wait or stay near (a place)
without doing anything or with no clear purpose: I hung
about (the station) for an hour but he didn't come. 2 [I] to
delay or move slowly; DAWDLE: Don't hang about, we have a
train to catch. | Hang about (=wait a minute) – I'm nearly
ready.
hang back phr v [I] to be unwilling to speak, act, or move,
especially because of fear or lack of confidence: The bridge
looked so unsafe that we all hung back. | Don't hang back – go
and introduce yourself to her.
hang on phr v 1 [I(to)] to keep hold of something: Hang on
(to the strap): the bus is about to start. 2 [I] to continue
waiting: I finish work at five but I'll hang on until half past to
meet you. | (especially BrE) I'm afraid the (telephone) line is
engaged, would you like to hang on? 3 [I] to continue in spite
of difficulties; PERSEVERE: I know you're tired, but try to hang
on a bit longer. 4 [T(hang on/upon sthg.)] to pay close attention
to: The boy admires his teacher and hangs on his every
word. 5 [T no pass. (hang on sthg.)] to depend on: The future of
the company hangs on the outcome of this meeting. | [+wh-]
Everything hangs on where they went next.
hang onto sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] infml to try to keep: We
should hang onto the house and sell it later when prices are
higher.
hang out phr v [+adv/prep] 1 infml to live or spend a lot of
time in a particular place: He hangs out in Green Street. |
They normally hang out in the pub. 2 let it all hang out
old-fash slang to behave exactly as you want to → see also
HANGOUT
hang over sthg./sbdy. phr v (especially of an unpleasant
event) to be about to happen or seem likely to happen soon:
The prospect of defeat is now hanging over them. | The threat
of war hung over Europe for 21 years. | With the exams
hanging over her head she can't sleep at nights. → see also
HANGOVER
hang together phr v [I] 1 to remain united: 'We must
indeed all hang together, or – we shall all hang (=be hanged)
separately.' (Benjamin Franklin) 2 to form a whole in which
the separate parts agree with each other; be CONSISTENT: The
witness's story just doesn't hang together, and I don't see how it
can be true.
hang up phr v [I] 1 [(on)] to finish a telephone conversation,
by putting the RECEIVER back: It's a bad line; hang up and I'll
call you back. | I was so angry I hung up on her. (=while she
was still talking) → see TELEPHONE (USAGE) 2 to hang
(clothes) on a HANGER: Would you please hang up your
clothes? 3 be hung up on/about infml to be anxious or have a
fixed idea about: She's very hung up about being alone. →
see also HANG-UP
hang² n [the S] 1 the shape or way something hangs: I don't
like the hang of this coat at the back. 2 get/have the hang
of something infml to learn how to do something or use
something, especially when this needs skill: Press this button
when the light goes on – you'll soon get the hang of it.
han·gar /'hæŋər/ n a big building where aircraft are kept
between flights or when being built or repaired
hang·dog /'hæŋdɒg||-dɔːg/ adj [A] (of an expression on the
face) unhappy especially because ashamed or sorry
hang·er /'hæŋər/ also coat hanger n a frame with a hook
and crosspiece which is put inside the shoulders of a dress
coat etc so that it can be hung up and will keep its shape
,hanger-'on n pl. hangers-on usually derog a person who tries
to be friendly with another person or group, especially for
his or her own advantage: The rock group arrived with all
their hangers-on.