TKG English Learner's Dictionary

hand

handnoun

American /hænd/ British /hænd/
plural hands
very commondefining vocabulary

A hand is the part of the body at the end of the arm, and most of the other senses come from what hands do: help, hold, control, work, and point.

  1. part of the bodythe part of the body at the end of the arm, with four fingers and a thumb, used for holding, touching, and making things

    countable [C]

    Collocations

    verb + noun wash your hands, shake hands with someone, hold hands, raise your hand, wave your hand, clap your hands
    adjective + noun your left hand, your right hand, both hands, bare hands, steady hands
    noun + noun hand towel, hand cream, hand sanitizer, hand signal
    preposition + noun in your hand, by the hand, with both hands, on your hands and knees

    Compare arm (the arm ends at the wrist, where the hand begins); fist (a fist is a closed hand)

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap English uses a possessive with body parts: wash your hands, hold my hand, not wash the hands. Shake hands, hold hands, and clap your hands are always plural, even when each person uses one hand.

  2. helphelp with a task, especially one that needs physical work or another pair of hands

    countable [C] usually singular [usu sing]

    Collocations

    verb + noun need a hand, give someone a hand, lend a hand, want a hand, could use a hand
    noun + preposition a hand with something

    Synonyms help

    For translators (sense 2)

    Grammar trap Countable and singular in this sense: a hand (the plural hands means workers, as in the worker sense). It is followed by with and a noun (a hand with the dishes) or by an -ing form after give someone a hand (give me a hand moving this).

  3. control or carethe power to decide about, control, or take care of someone or something

    countable [C] usually plural [usu pl]

    Collocations

    preposition + noun in the hands of someone, in good hands, in safe hands, out of your hands, into the wrong hands
    verb + noun fall into someone's hands, leave something in someone's hands, take something out of someone's hands, pass into new hands

    Synonyms control

    For translators (sense 3)

    Meaning across languages This sense may need a word for control, care, or power rather than the body part: in the hands of usually translates as under the control of, and in good hands as well cared for.

  4. of a clockone of the long thin parts of a clock or watch that turn around to point to the time

    countable [C]

    Collocations

    noun + noun the hour hand, the minute hand, the second hand
    noun + verb the hands move, the hands point to

  5. workera person whose job is physical work on a farm, a ship, or in a factory

    countable [C]

    Collocations

    noun + noun farm hand, deck hand, factory hand
    adjective + noun a hired hand, extra hands, experienced hands

    Synonyms worker; laborer

  6. in card gamesthe set of cards that one player holds in a game

    countable [C] games

    Collocations

    adjective + noun a good hand, a strong hand, a weak hand, a winning hand
    verb + noun deal a hand, hold a hand, play a hand

    1. aone round of a card game, from the dealing of the cards to the end of play

  7. clappinga period of clapping by an audience to show that they enjoyed something or to thank someone

    countable [C] usually singular [usu sing]

    Collocations

    adjective + noun a big hand, a warm hand
    verb + noun give someone a hand, get a hand, deserve a hand

    Synonyms applause

  8. handwritingthe way a particular person forms letters when writing, as their own style

    countable [C] usually singular [usu sing] formal

    Collocations

    adjective + noun a neat hand, a clear hand
    preposition + noun in someone's own hand

    Synonyms handwriting

  9. for horsesa unit for measuring the height of a horse, equal to four inches (about ten centimeters)

    countable [C] animals

    Collocations

    phrase sixteen hands high, a hand taller

Phrases

give someone a hand

help someone do something

Lend a hand and need a hand are used in the same way: Can you lend a hand? Do you need a hand?

give someone a big hand

clap loudly for someone to show that you enjoyed what they did

on the other hand

used to introduce a fact or an opinion that points the other way from what was just said

The first point is often introduced by on the one hand: On the one hand the job pays well; on the other hand, the hours are long. On the other hand can also stand alone.

by hand

using the hands and simple tools, not a machine

A letter delivered by hand is brought by a person rather than sent by post.

at hand

near, and ready to be used, or about to happen

hand in hand

holding each other's hand

go hand in hand

be closely connected, so that one happens together with the other

Often go hand in hand with something.

get out of hand

become impossible to control

a helping hand

help, especially help offered kindly to someone in need of it

in good hands

being cared for or dealt with by someone who can be trusted

In safe hands means the same.

in hand

being dealt with, or under control

In hand also means available to be used, as in cash in hand. In British English the matter in hand or the job in hand is the one you are dealing with now.

on hand

near and ready to help or to be used

out of hand

at once, without stopping to think about it

Compare get out of hand, which means become impossible to control.

hands off informal

used to tell someone not to touch something

Hands off something also means stop trying to control or take it: Hands off our park! The adjective hands-off means not getting involved: a hands-off manager.

hands up

used to tell people to raise one or both hands

In a class or a meeting, Hands up! asks people to raise a hand if they want to answer or offer something: Hands up if you know the answer. Said by the police or by a robber, Hands up! orders people to raise both hands to show that they will not fight or run away.

have your hands full

be very busy with something

change hands

pass from one owner to another

the upper hand

a position of advantage or control over someone

Used with have, get, and gain.

wash your hands of something

refuse to have anything more to do with something or someone

get your hands on something informal

manage to get or find something that you want

Lay your hands on something means the same. Get your hands on someone means catch them in order to punish them.

have a hand in something

take part in doing or causing something

try your hand at something

attempt an activity for the first time, to see whether you like it or can do it

hands down informal

easily and without any doubt

force someone's hand

make someone do something before they are ready or want to

show your hand

let people know what you plan to do, after keeping it secret

American English also says tip your hand. The picture is of a card player showing the cards they hold.

all hands on deck informal

used to say that everyone must help because there is a lot to do

an old hand

a person who has done something for a long time and knows it well

from hand to mouth

with only just enough money or food to live on

Used with live.

on your hands

as something that you must deal with or use

off your hands

no longer something that you have to deal with or take care of

at the hands of someone formal

as a result of what a particular person or group did to you

Used of something bad that happens to a person.

a free hand

the freedom to decide for yourself how to do something

hand over fist informal

very quickly and in large amounts

Used with make and lose, about money.

Word family

  • hand (give something to someone with your hand)
  • handful
  • handy
  • handbag
  • handshake
  • handwriting
  • handmade
  • handheld
  • handbook
  • handout
  • handcuffs
  • hands on
  • hands off
  • secondhand
  • firsthand
  • left handed
  • right handed
  • empty handed
  • beforehand
  • offhand

Usage

Shake hands, hold hands, and clap your hands take the plural even when each person uses only one hand. You shake hands with someone or shake someone's hand. On the right hand and on the left hand, meaning on that side, are old-fashioned; today people say on the right or on the right-hand side.

Common mistakes

They shook hand and sat down. They shook hands and sat down.
The fixed phrase is always plural: shake hands, hold hands.
I made it by my hands. I made it by hand.
By hand has no possessive and no plural; the alternative is with my own hands.
Can you give me hand? Can you give me a hand?
A hand meaning help is countable and needs a.

See also finger; wrist

For translators

Meaning across languages In many languages one word covers both the hand and the arm, or the border between them is drawn differently; English hand ends at the wrist. The help, control, clock, worker, and card senses are often separate words in other languages, so check each one.
Grammar trap English uses a possessive, not the, with body parts in most contexts: wash your hands. After a preposition, when the person is named elsewhere, the takes over: hit him on the hand. Some fixed uses are plural for one hand each: shake hands, clap your hands. The help sense is singular and countable: a hand; plural hands means workers.
Cultural background In most English-speaking countries adults shake hands when they are introduced and often when they part; a firm, short handshake is expected. Raising a hand is the normal way to ask to speak in a class or a meeting.
Pronunciation trap The vowel is the short a of cat. The plural hands ends in the cluster ndz, which learners often reduce to ns or nz; keep the d.