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to hand

to hand

2 1.0
To help someone move by holding and supporting them
  • verb
  • /hænd/
: acompañar

Examples

  • We will bring your kittens and hand them to you because that's really cool.

  • The man got out, opened the hatch, growled something unintelligible, and then handed me my bag.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The recruiter slaps Forrest on the shoulder and hands him some military literature.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • When Molly unwrapped the toy, she looked at it and smiled, handing the handwritten IOU to Mom.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • He reached out to hand me his notebook as I entered the classroom.

  • The teacher decided to hand the students their exam papers one by one.

  • As she struggled to climb the steps, I quickly went to hand her a steadying hand.

Synonyms

to hold someone's hand
vsto hand
  • Informal
313 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

is about guiding someone physically during movement or entry
to give a hand
vsto hand
242 1.8

To help someone with something or to clap to show appreciation

is mainly about physical assistance to move or enter, not applause
to lend a hand
vsto hand
  • Informal
45 1.3

To help someone with a task

focuses specifically on guiding with physical touch during movement
8 3.2

Hold someone's arm to help or guide them while walking

guides or assists by physically touching to help movement or entry
to lend a helping hand
vsto hand
  • Informal
6 2.7

To give someone support with a task or problem

leans toward physical guiding by holding or touching someone to move them
to extend a hand
vsto hand
  • Informal
5 2.9

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

is more about direct physical guiding rather than a symbolic offer

Antonyms

607 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

94 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

Idioms

Shows a different idea from what you said before

450 2.1

Under control and dealt with successfully

185 3.2

Used to show one idea that you will compare with another

out of hand
  • Informal
177 4.8

A situation that is not under control and hard to manage

139 1.0

Close by and easy to reach when you need it

139 3.6

To introduce one of two contrasting points in a discussion

114 2.0

To do something with your hands, for example writing or making things, instead of with a machine

108 2.1

Ready to use or help when needed

54 3.2

People or groups work closely together to reach the same goal

45 3.2

About to happen

28 3.8

During very close fighting when people stand next to each other

25 6.5

Make someone decide or act sooner than they want

17 1.0

Two people hold each other's hands while walking together

12 2.4

Near you and easy to reach

To harm someone who helps you

To do everything for someone and meet all their needs

7 4.9

To have a very small number of people or things

hand over fist
  • Informal
7 5.9

Happens very quickly, often when someone earns a lot of money

6 2.7

To give someone support with a task or problem

hand to mouth
  • Informal
6 6.3

Living with only enough money for day to day needs and no savings

hand and foot
  • Informal
5 6.6

Give someone complete care and do everything they want

to extend a hand
  • Informal
5 2.9

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

hand in glove
  • Informal
4 7.0

Working very closely in a secret or dishonest way

hand to God
  • Informal
4 8.2

Say it to promise that what you say is true

hand-to-mouth
  • Informal
3 6.8

To live with only enough money to pay for basic needs and no savings

3 7.9

To put someone into a bad or difficult situation because of bad luck

hat in hand
  • Informal
2 7.2

In a humble and respectful way when you ask for something or admit a mistake

You can reach and use it right away

Directly from the person, place, or event involved

To steal money from your workplace, for example from a cash register

talk to the hand
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A rude phrase with a hand gesture that tells someone you will not listen

hand and glove
  • Informal
1 6.1

Working very closely together

Likely to happen very soon

1 7.7

Not able to act freely because rules or people stop you

1 7.7

Calm, skilled control of a team or company in difficult times

Very few people or things you can count on one hand

1 5.0

To handle a situation well by using what you have

To keep an advantage or control over others

To add an important opposite point to consider

1 9.9

A past rule or tradition that still controls and prevents change

1 8.0

To stop someone completely from acting freely

1 8.7

Fire someone from their job

Done personally by the person who made or wrote it

To accept what you cannot change and make the best of it

7.7

In a humble way when asking for help or forgiveness

A rude way to say someone is in an embarrassing situation and unprepared

Put someone into a difficult situation they cannot control because of bad luck

To be unprepared and embarrassed in front of other people

Very easy for anyone to understand or do

Put as much as your hand can hold

To know something very well and do it easily

Know a place or thing very well because you have seen it many times

Phrasal Verbs

380 2.8

Give something to someone because you have to

313 2.8

To comfort and guide someone who feels anxious or unsure

242 1.8

To help someone with something or to clap to show appreciation

237 1.8

To give something to people in a group

to hand it to
  • Informal
58 4.6

Praise someone for doing something well

47 3.7

Give responsibility, control, or an object to another person

to lend a hand
  • Informal
45 1.3

To help someone with a task

37 2.5

Give a document, for example an assignment, to someone in charge

34 3.6

Give objects, knowledge, or traditions to younger people in your family

Help make something happen or influence how it is done

29 2.2

Raise your hand to show you want to speak or answer

25 3.8

To choose carefully by yourself for a special purpose

Two people walk close together holding hands as a sign of affection

7 2.8

Wash something with your hands instead of in a machine

To make pots or bowls by shaping clay with your hands without using a wheel

To become available to someone, often information or documents

to hand out
  • Informal
2 5.5

To ask people for money or help expecting to receive it

To give each player a set of cards in a card game

To help someone a lot with a task or project

Lift your hand to show you want to speak or ask a question

to hand-wave
  • Informal
1 8.3

To give a quick, unclear answer instead of real facts

to hand off
  • Specialized
1 4.3

Move an active call or data connection from one cell tower to another to keep service working

1 8.2

To ask for money or help without trying to earn it

To move your hand to show you do not care

Raise your hand to show you want to take part

Compounds

227 1.0

The part of the body on the right side that you use to hold things and write

217 1.0

The hand on the left side of the body

185 2.5

Lifting a hand to show you want to speak or answer

upper hand
  • Informal
55 3.2

A position giving power or advantage over someone in a situation

51 3.5

A trusted helper who works closely with a leader

49 1.3

On or toward the right side

hand job
  • Offensive
39 9.9

A sexual act where one person uses a hand to touch a man's penis for pleasure

38 1.0

On the left side of something

35 2.8

Made to be used with the right hand

35 1.4

Someone who gives support when you need it

A person who helps a leader and is trusted with important work

28 5.4

Physical fighting that happens very close to someone

hand grenade
  • Specialized
28 4.2

A small bomb you throw by hand

24 3.7

Small and light enough to hold and use with one hand

22 3.4

The job you are doing now that needs your attention

21 2.9

Loud applause from an audience to show strong approval

19 2.2

Not new, bought from someone who owned it before

18 3.0

A used piece of clothing or item given from one person to another

Quick, skilled hand movements used to perform magic tricks or fool people

15 3.8

A calm, careful way of guiding movement or people in difficult situations

14 3.3

Information received through another person rather than directly

hand wringing
  • Informal
12 7.7

A way of showing too much worry by repeatedly twisting or clasping the hands

12 4.8

A thing you can hold for support, or simple help for someone new

11 4.4

A person who works on a ranch caring for cattle or horses

10 3.7

A person with a lot of experience in a job or activity

9 4.1

The freedom to act or decide without being told what to do

9 1.0

A small towel for drying your hands or face

9 1.9

Holding another person's hand to show love or give comfort

8 3.6

A person paid to do manual work on a farm or ranch

6 1.8

A thing you hold and use with your hands, not powered by a machine, like a hammer or screwdriver

The thing people are talking about now

6 1.0

A cream that makes the skin of your hands soft and protects it

6 1.4

A cream for your hands that makes the skin soft and not dry

5 3.6

Giving close support and guidance to help someone do something new or difficult

5 2.9

A small human hand that often belongs to a child

5 2.5

A small puppet you wear on your hand and move with your fingers

5 4.0

A person who does hard physical work on a farm

5 6.4

Very strict control over people that allows no disagreement

5 7.4

Information told by someone who heard it from someone else

4 3.4

Money you can use immediately

cold hand
  • Literature
3 8.2

An unfriendly touch or a feeling that danger is near

3 2.9

A small cart with two wheels and handles for moving heavy things

3 4.1

Owned before and then given or sold to another person

3 4.0

Describing clothing or objects that have been used and are given to someone else

3 6.8

A short time when someone keeps having success, often in games or sports

3 2.1

A small mirror with a handle that you hold to see your face

hand waving
  • Informal
3 8.6

Making unclear gestures or saying unclear things to avoid a clear answer

glad hand
  • Informal
3 7.7

A warm friendly greeting that may not be sincere

A shop that sells used things at low prices

A small portable computer you hold in one hand

3 3.0

A simple device you move by hand to lift water or push air

3 2.6

The hand on a clock that shows seconds

2 1.8

Small bags you carry onto a plane or train instead of checking them

2 7.7

A situation where one person or group has more control than others

Striking the palms of your hands together repeatedly to show approval or admiration

2 2.8

A small tool you hold to mix and beat food such as batter and cream

2 3.8

Glass that a person shapes by blowing air through a tube, not by a machine

2 2.0

A control you pull to keep a parked car from moving

A woman who helps a leader closely and can be trusted

2 1.6

A long hand on a clock or watch that shows the minutes

2 1.8

The shorter hand on a clock or watch that shows the hour

1 3.0

A small tool you turn by hand to make holes in wood or other materials

1 4.2

Small electric tool that sends warm air to dry hair

1 2.1

A saw used with one hand to cut wood

1 2.7

A thing you use with the left hand

1 3.0

A set of five cards a player receives to try to win against others

hand-waving
  • Informal
1 7.9

An explanation that is vague and lacks proof or important detail

1 9.5

A secret criminal group that extorted people and used violence in Italian American neighborhoods

1 4.6

A form of football where another player stops someone by touching them with both hands

1 4.9

Moving the hands to get attention or make a point

dead hand
  • Formal
1 9.2

A continuing influence from the past that holds back change

hand ax
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A small stone tool with a sharp edge used for cutting and chopping

1 1.0

The longer hand on a clock that points to the minutes

How Supportive

to support
73 1.0
to carry
∞ 1.0
to hand
2 1.0
to steady
66 3.4

Surface Forms

hand infinitive
handed past
handed past participle
handing present participle
hands third person singular

Etymology

Hand as a verb meaning to guide comes from using your hand to lead or help someone move, so to 'hand' someone through a crowd is to guide them by the arm or hand.