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Glite Dictionary
to have a hand in

to have a hand in

31 3.9
Help make something happen or influence how it is done
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : participar en
  • If you have a hand in saving it, each one of you, you're gonna feel real good.
  • think he had a hand in influencing
  • had a hand in raising
  • had a hand in creating

And a kid that has a hand in cooking their own food will be more likely to eat it because they feel a sense of pride and proprietorship.

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Examples

  • She wanted to have a hand in the decision-making process for the new policy.

  • Well-to-do farmers often had a hand in establishing the first villages.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Someone had a hand in it...

    American Underdog (2021)

  • I had a hand in it.

    Twister (1996)

  • You had a hand in all this, way back in the beginning.

    Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

  • Even when I had a hand in every aspect of the company.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Western oil interests would always have a hand in whatever would secure their positions.

    Blog text (21)

  • I'm here because of what I had a hand in creating.

    Middle Men (2009)

  • Each had a hand in planning Munich.

    Munich (2005)

  • My production will not disappoint and everyone will know you had a hand in its success.

    Chevalier (2023)

Synonyms

to play a role
vsto have a hand in
81 2.5

To help decide what happens in a situation

can mean general involvement that is not always a major influence
to play a part
vsto have a hand in
42 2.5

To act in a show or help make something happen

can refer simply to taking part without strong influence on result
finger in the pie
vsto have a hand in
  • Informal
7.2

To have a part in something and some control

often implies being one of many rather than leading the outcome

Antonyms

to stay out of it
56 3.8

To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight

uninvolved
5 4.5

Not taking part in an activity or situation

How Involved

to lead
∞ 1.0
to have a hand in
31 3.9
to take part
169 1.4
to help out
  • Informal
486 1.0
to sit in
23 3.9

Surface Forms

have a hand in infinitive
had a hand in past
had a hand in past participle
having a hand in present participle
has a hand in third person singular

Morphology

have + a + hand + in

The meaning 'to be involved or take part in' is directly derivable from 'have' + 'a' + 'hand' (with 'hand' understood as assistance/help) and the preposition 'in' marking participation. This is a common, concrete metaphor (cf. 'lend a hand') and follows standard compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Have a hand in may come from the simple image of someone putting a hand into a job to help shape it. So, if you 'have a hand in' something you take part in it or help make it happen.