steady hand
7
3.8
- noun
:
mano firme
- During the emergency surgery, the doctor relied on his steady hand to perform the intricate procedure.
But will I bring a steady hand to a tumultuous West Wing?
- But will I bring a steady hand to a tumultuous West Wing?
- But it happens because I don't have a steady hand.
- He was merely a man with an easel, brush, and a steady hand working deliberately carving light out of paint.
Examples
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Sure, surgeons require a steady hand and the utmost precision in their work.
Blog text (28) -
A table saw might have been a bit better, but with a steady hand, this should do the trick.
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You have to have a steady hand for sure.
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I used to have a steady hand.
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A cool head, a steady hand, and up we go!
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Thank you for a steady hand during the crisis here in the Empire State.
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Could Andrew be your steady hand while you train him up to succeed you?
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"Her calm and steady hand moves with the rhythm of her words, giving comfort to this child.
Fiction book (2000) -
With a clear eye and a steady hand, he led the United States through a transformative time in world affairs.
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With a steady hand, he reached over to a pot and poured himself another cup of tea.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
Calm, skilled control of a team or company in difficult times
Antonyms
How Supportive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and predictably built from 'steady' (calm, not easily shaken) + 'hand' (grip or control); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a literal or extended sense of calm, controlled guidance. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows straightforward adjective + noun semantics, so the expression is immediately understandable to learners.
Etymology
Steady hand comes from a simple picture of someone using their hand to hold something steady so it does not shake, like a parent steadying a child's bicycle or a surgeon holding a tool. So, the phrase means 'calm and controlled guidance' in hard situations.