on hand
81
2.1
- idiom
:
disponible
- There is only one member of staff on hand to deal with emergencies.
- keep on hand
- cash on hand
- materials on hand
And I still keep that on hand and use that all of the time.
- And I still keep that on hand and use that all of the time.
- We've got questions about how much stuff should we have on hand when catastrophe happens.
- So as long as you have some in your house or on hand, keep using it.
- Just keep your foundation brush on hand to correct any of the mist stocks you've made.
- And so people had free time, they had cash on hand.
- Or if we do, at least they'll be good physicians on hand to help us heal.
- I never feel like I have enough work or cash on hand.
- Judge opportunity by how few other students and researchers are on hand.
- Just like a fire extinguisher or a first aid kit, it's just good to have one on hand at all times.
- Also, I don't know if this is just my personal opinion, but I would have some cash on hand, different currencies.
Examples
-
So Trixie and David have made sure that there is water on hand at all times.
-
Make sure to have some water on hand for your hike in the hot sun.
-
So I would keep one of those on hand at all times.
-
And I still keep that on hand and use that all of the time.
-
All the cash we have on hand is yours.
-
It's all I have on hand at the moment.
-
If we need her, she can be on hand in a few hours.
Fiction book (1999) -
Let's see what I have on hand.
-
All necessary equipment should be assembled and on hand, and any necessary pre-test checks performed.
Academic text (2011) -
Fortunately, GBI Electronics Division was on hand and well organized to provide those items.
Fiction book (2001)
Synonyms
∞
2.3
Able to be used or bought and not in use now
106
1.0
Close by and easy to reach when you need it
20
3.5
Prepared and available to use immediately
1
3.4
You can reach and use it right away
Easy to get on a phone or computer
Antonyms
How Available
Surface Forms
Morphology
The locative preposition 'on' combined with 'hand' (understood as the physical hand or 'at hand') yields a clear spatial/metaphorical sense of something being 'at hand' or within reach and therefore available. This compositional, locative-to-availability mapping is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will very likely infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
On hand comes from the simple image of something being very near you, almost as if it were on your hand and easy to reach. So when something is on hand, it is 'available' or 'present' when you need it.