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to give a hand

to give a hand

707 1.8
To help someone with something or to clap to show appreciation
  • phrasal verb
: echar una mano
  • Now, give a hand for our next group, those manic minstrels from Manchester, the Bed Bugs!
  • Give a helping hand
  • Give me a hand
  • Please give me a hand

It wants to, it wants to give them a hand up, not a hand out.

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Examples

Synonyms

to assist
vsto give a hand
605 1.0

To help someone by making a task easier

is more informal and can also mean to applaud someone
to help someone with
vsto give a hand
499 1.0

To do part of a task for someone who has trouble doing it

is broader, also used as a phrase to express applause
to help out
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
486 1.0

To do something for someone who cannot do it alone

is more versatile, also meaning to show public appreciation
to help someone out
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
182 1.3

Give someone support with a task or problem when they need it

adds the extra sense of applauding someone publicly
to applaud
vsto give a hand
101 2.6

To clap your hands to show approval after a performance

shares this sense but also means to join in doing a task
to lend a hand
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
28 1.3

To help someone with a task

also includes showing approval by applause as an alternate use
to offer support
vsto give a hand
28 2.7

To give help to someone during a difficult time

is shorter and also commonly used to mean public applause
to lift a finger
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
27 5.1

To make no effort to help

usually implies a fuller offer of action or of public applause
to lend a helping hand
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
6 2.7

To give someone support with a task or problem

is used both for joining tasks and for expressing applause
to extend a hand
vsto give a hand
  • Informal
5 2.9

To offer help or friendship by reaching out your hand to someone

is a common casual phrase that also means to clap for someone
to give a big hand
vsto give a hand
2 3.7

To help someone a lot with a task or project

is more neutral and additionally used for expressing applause

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

How Helpful

assist
33 1.8
to give a hand
707 1.8
to help out
  • Informal
486 1.0

Surface Forms

give a hand infinitive
giving a hand present participle
gives a hand third person singular
given a hand past participle

Morphology

give + a + hand

The primary meaning 'to help someone' is directly compositional from 'give' (provide) + 'hand' (assistance), with the article 'a' adding no semantic opacity, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the sense. The applause sense is a conventional extension motivated by hands clapping, so it remains largely transparent rather than wholly idiomatic.

Etymology

Give a hand comes from two simple images: offering your hand to help someone lift or carry something, and using your hands to clap for a good show. So it now means both 'to help' and 'to applaud'.