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Glite Dictionary
hands

hands

64 1.6
People who do physical work, especially on farms or in factories
  • noun
  • /hændz/
: manos de obra
  • We'd have 200 miiiion AmericanS dead on our handS.

But no, I mean, you know, these guys have hands, eyes, people everywhere.

Examples

  • They relied on local hands to harvest the crops during the busy season.

  • The factory hired more hands to meet the increased demand for production.

  • And for me, working with the hands is the best.

  • Still, this doesn't require additional hands at all.

  • The construction site needed extra hands to complete the project on time.

Synonyms

men
vshands
705 1.0

People available to do a job, often soldiers or workers

refers more to manual or industrial workers rather than organizational units
manpower
vshands
74 3.7

The number of people who can do work in a company or area

refers to the actual workers rather than the number or statistic
hand
vshands
66 4.9

A worker who does physical work on a ship or farm

refers to a group of workers rather than one individual
hired hand
vshands
8 3.6

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

refers to general manual or industrial workers rather than one employed farm worker

Antonyms

unemployed
204 1.7

Without work and looking for a job

Idioms

on someone's hands
250 5.3

Having work or problems that you must deal with

with bare hands
65 3.5

Using only your hands and no tools or weapons

the wrong hands
45 6.4

People who cannot be trusted to use something safely

hands down
  • Informal
44 3.2

Very easily and much better than others

to fall into the wrong hands
19 6.3

To become available to people who might use it to harm others

to tie someone's hands
14 4.8

Stop someone from acting or making decisions

in safe hands
7 3.4

Someone you can trust looks after people or things so you need not worry

putty in someone's hands
  • Informal
6 8.1

Someone who is easily controlled by another person

hands-down
  • Informal
5 4.1

Won or achieved very easily without trying hard

cold, dead hands
  • Informal
4 9.9

To refuse to give up something unless you are dead

to sit on your hands
  • Informal
3 8.1

Not do anything when action is needed

to throw up one's hands
  • Informal
1 6.5

Raise both hands to show you feel frustrated or give up

safe pair of hands
  • UK
1 4.5

A person who can be trusted to do important tasks carefully and well

time on one's hands
  • Informal
1 3.4

Free time when someone has nothing to do and can choose what to do

couldn't find his ass with both hands
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A rude way to say someone is very bad at simple tasks and easily confused

to take courage in both hands
1 7.9

To make yourself brave enough to do something difficult

to have one's hands full
  • Informal
1 3.9

To be very busy with many tasks

blood on one's hands
  • Informal
8.9

Being responsible for someone dying or being seriously hurt because of your actions

find (one's) ass with both hands and a flashlight
  • Offensive
9.9

Not able to do simple tasks, often confused and disorganized

to raise one's hands in victory
3.4

Lift both arms above your head to show you have won

to sit on one's hands
  • Informal
7.4

To do nothing when someone should act

to wash one's hands
  • Informal
6.3

Refuse to take the blame for a problem

to wash one's hands of
  • Informal
6.7

Stop being involved and refuse to take responsibility for someone or something

Compounds

hands-on
84 3.9

Involving direct practical work rather than only theory

all hands
52 3.2

Everyone who can help, especially at work or in an emergency

hands-off
24 5.3

Not taking an active part and allowing others to act freely

safe hands
8 4.0

A person, team, or group you can trust to look after something

extra pair of hands
4 3.0

A person who helps with physical tasks when needed

hands-on learning
3 3.4

Study where you do practical tasks with real tools or equipment

laying on of hands
  • Formal
1 8.3

An act of placing hands on a person to bless, give authority, or heal them

extra pair of hands
  • Informal
3.5

A machine or program that helps people do repeated tasks

How Many

workforce
132 2.4
hands
64 1.6
crew
∞ 1.3
team
∞ 1.0
hand
66 4.9

Surface Forms

hand singular
hands plural

Morphology

hands = hand (semi-transparent) = hand + s

Formally a regular plural ('hand' + '-s'), but the meaning 'workers' is an extended, idiomatic sense of 'hand' and may not be inferable from the body-part sense alone.

Etymology

Hands for 'workers' comes from the idea of a hand meaning 'a person who works with their hands', as in farmhand or deckhand. So, when people say 'all hands on deck' they mean 'all workers are needed'.