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- she's an old hand at this sort of work. | an old China hand who'd lived there and knew it well. 9 [S] encouragement given by clapping (CLAP) the hands; a burst of APPLAUSE: Let's give the singer a big hand! 10 [S] help (especially in the phrase give/lend a hand to): Could you give me a hand with this heavy table, please? 11 [S[in]] an influence or share in some action or event: I suspect John had a hand in this. | Some observers detected the hand of the Americans in the coup. (=believed that they influenced or took part in it) 12 [C usually pl.;U] control, power, or responsibility: The meeting is getting out of hand - will everybody stop talking at once! | The whole affair is now in the hands of the police. (=they are responsible for dealing with it) | I've got a lot more free time now that the children are off my hands. (=I'm no longer responsible for them) | Several of the border villages have fallen into enemy hands. (=been taken by the enemy) -> compare out of hand (HAND^1) 13 at first hand by direct personal experience, or that of another person: I heard about it at first hand from my neighbour. | He's one of the few Westerners who has experienced conditions there at first hand. -> see also FIRSTHAND 14 at hand rather fml near in time or place: The great day is at hand. 15 at second/third/fourth hand when passed on through one, two, or three people: I heard it (at) second hand, when his father, who saw the fire, told my mother, who told me. -> see also SECOND-HAND 16 at someone's hands from or because of someone: They suffered terribly at the hands of the invaders. 17 bite the hand that feeds you infml to do something to upset or hurt a person you depend on for money, e.g. your employer 18 by hand a) by a person, not a machine: written by hand, not typed or printed b) delivered directly from one person to another, not sent through the post 19 (from) hand to mouth with only just enough money to live on and nothing for the future: living from hand to mouth | a hand-to-mouth existence 20 give someone a free hand to allow someone to do things in their own way: The new director has been given a free hand to reorganize the company. 21 hand in glove (with) closely connected or working together (with someone), especially in something bad 22 hand in hand a) holding each other's hand (usually with the left hand of one in the right hand of the other), especially to show love b) happening together and closely connected: Dirt and disease go hand in hand. | Dirt goes hand in hand with disease. 23 hand over fist infml very quickly and in large amounts: making money hand over fist 24 in hand ready or able to be used or done: money in hand | Don't worry; we've still got three days in hand before the work is due. -> compare take/have in hand (HAND^1) 25 in good, safe etc hands under someone's good, safe etc protection or responsibility: Don't worry about the children - they're in good hands. | We left the project in the capable hands of our deputy manager. 26 keep one's hand in to keep one's skill in something by continuing to practise it 27 many hands make light work saying if many people work together, they can do a job quickly 28 not do a hand's turn BrE infml derog to do no work 29 on every hand lit in all directions; all around 30 on hand ready for use or ready when needed: The nurse will be on hand if you need her. 31 on the one/other hand (used for comparing different things or ideas) as one point in the argument/as an opposite point: I know this job of mine isn't well paid, but on the other hand I don't have to work long hours. -> see CONTRARY (USAGE) 32 out of hand (especially of decisions not to do something) at once and without any further thought: I refused their offer out of hand. -> compare getting out of hand (HAND^1) 33 take/have in hand to bring/have under control: We have the matter (well) in hand. | These young offenders must be taken in hand. -> compare in hand (HAND^1) 34 (tie/bind someone) hand and foot (to tie) both the hands and feet of: The prisoners were tied hand and foot. | (fig.) We're bound hand and foot by all the safety regulations. (=we are unable to act freely) 35 to hand within reach 36 turn one's hand to to (have the ability to) practise (a skill): He can turn his hand to any kind of manual work. 37 it's all hands on deck also it's all hands to the pump BrE used in order to say that everyone has to work together because they have a lot of work to do in a small amount of time: It's all hands on deck right now. They're working all weekend to get the office ready by Monday. | When the wedding party arrives at the hotel, it'll be all hands to the pump - we're short-staffed today. 38 in the hands of sbdy. also in sbdy.'s hands used in order to say that a particular person or organization has control over something and makes decisions about what will happen: There was no way to tell what was going to happen. The case was in the hands of the jury, and all we could do was wait. | I'll leave the matter in your hands, but if you need anything, just ask. 39 out of sbdy.'s hands used to say that someone has no control over something: I'm sorry, it's out of my hands - I've passed on your complaint to the manager, and there is nothing more I can do. | If the city council can't control their budget, it will be taken out of their hands. 40 have something on your hands to have to be experiencing or dealing with a particular type of situation now, usually a difficult one: By 12:38, with a three-alarm fire on its hands, the Fire Department had sent seven engines, two trucks, and a paramedic unit to the scene. | If we don't do something to calm things down, we'll have a revolt on our hands. | It looks like Citroen have another winner on their hands with their latest hatchback. 41 lay/get your hands on spoken to be able to find or get something, especially something that is difficult to find or get: Can you lay your hands on a first edition of the book? The rocket is without a doubt the most popular toy this Christmas, so if you want to get your hands on one, you'd better move fast. 42 -handed: /hændɪd/ a) having a hand or hands of the stated kind or number b) using the stated hand or number of hands: right-handed | serving left-handed | Is left-handedness inherited? | a one-handed catch -> see also RED-HANDED, SINGLE-HANDED 43 -hander /hændər/ someone using the stated hand: The players are both left-handers. -> see also FREE HAND, HANDS OFF, HANDS-ON, HANDS UP, OLD HAND, SECOND-HAND, force someone's hand (FORCE^2), overlay one's hand (OVERPLAY), wash one's hands of (WASH^1), win hands down (WIN^1)
hand^2 v [T] 1 to give from one's own hand into someone else's: [+obj+adv/prep] Will you hand it back when you've finished with it? | I handed round the box of chocolates. (=offered them to everyone) | She handed her ticket to the ticket-collector. | [+obj][+obj(d)] Hand me that book, please. | Will you hand me down that box from the shelf, please? 2 (have to) hand it to someone to (have to) admit someone's success, especially in the stated activity: You've got to hand it to him, he's a good talker.
hand down phr v [T(to)] 1 [often pass. (hand sthg. <-> down)] to give or leave to people who are younger or live after: This ring has been handed down in my family for generations. -> see also HAND-ME-DOWN 2 (hand down sthg.) (of a person or group in a position of power) to declare publicly and officially: The board of directors will hand down its decision on Monday. | The judge handed down heavy sentences to the rioters. -> compare INHERIT
hand sthg. <-> in phr v [T] to deliver; give by hand: Please hand in your papers at the end of the exam.
hand sthg. <-> on phr v [T(to)] 1 to give from one person to another (especially something that can be used by many people one after the other): Please read this leaflet and hand it on. 2 to HAND down (1)
hand sthg. <-> out phr v [T(to)] to give to each member of a group of people; DISTRIBUTE: Hand out the pencils (to everyone in the class). | (fig.) He's very good at handing out advice! (=he gives it too freely) -> see also HANDOUT
hand over phr v 1 [T(to) (hand sbdy./sthg. <-> over)] to give into someone else's care or control: The thief was handed over to the police. | I know you've got it - now hand it over! 2 [I;T(= hand sthg. <-> over)] to give (power, responsibility, or control of something) to someone else: The captain was unwilling to hand over the command of his ship (to a younger man). | The old government will hand over (power) to its successors next week. -> see also HANDOVER
hand-bag^1 /'hændbæg/ also purse, pocketbook AmE - n a small bag, especially one used by a woman to carry her money and personal things in. People sometimes make jokes about angry women hitting people with their handbags. -> see picture at PURSE
handbag^2 v to attack, usually used to describe a woman, especially a politician, who makes a verbal attack on somebody
hand-ball /'hændbɔ:l/ also racketball n [U] 1 a game played in the US usually by two or four players, where a ball (a handball) is hit against a wall by the hand -> compare FIVES 2 (in football) the offence of touching the ball with one's hand