{"id":23809,"date":"2024-08-20T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ellalanguage.com\/blog\/?p=23809"},"modified":"2024-09-19T14:27:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T12:27:37","slug":"20-hand-idioms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellalanguage.com\/blog\/20-hand-idioms\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Hand Idioms"},"content":{"rendered":"

20 hand idioms<\/h1>\n

Hand idioms are common in English and can describe different situations and behaviors. From offering help to taking control, these idioms cover a wide range of topics, helping you sound more natural in your conversations. Here’s 20 useful hand idioms, with explanations and examples for each.<\/p>\n

Lend a hand<\/h2>\n

To offer help or assistance.<\/p>\n

Can you lend a hand<\/strong> with the groceries?<\/div>\n
Thanks for lending a hand<\/strong>; we finished the project on time.<\/div>\n

In good hands<\/h2>\n

To be safe or well taken care of.<\/p>\n

Don’t worry, your car is in good hands<\/strong> with this mechanic.<\/div>\n
I feel in good hands<\/strong> with my doctor; she\u2019s very experienced.<\/div>\n

Hands down<\/h2>\n

Without a doubt, or easily.<\/p>\n

This is hands down<\/strong> the best cake I’ve ever tasted.<\/div>\n
She won the game hands down<\/strong>, without breaking a sweat.<\/div>\n

A hand-me-down<\/h2>\n

Something, usually clothes, given from one person to another.<\/p>\n

I used to wear hand-me-downs<\/strong> from my older brother.<\/div>\n
That jacket is a hand-me-down<\/strong> from my cousin.<\/div>\n

Wash one’s hands of something<\/h2>\n

To decide to stop being involved with something.<\/p>\n

After the argument, he washed his hands of the project<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
She washed her hands of the matter<\/strong>, leaving it to her colleagues.<\/div>\n

Hand in hand<\/h2>\n

Something that happens together or side by side.<\/p>\n

Success and hard work go hand in hand<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
They walked hand in hand<\/strong> down the street.<\/div>\n

To be caught red-handed<\/h2>\n

To be caught doing something wrong.<\/p>\n

She was caught red-handed<\/strong> stealing cookies from the jar.<\/div>\n
The student was caught red-handed<\/strong> cheating on the test.<\/div>\n

A show of hands<\/h2>\n

Voting or showing that we agree by raising hands.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a show of hands<\/strong> to decide where to eat.<\/div>\n
The class took a show of hands<\/strong> to choose the field trip destination.<\/div>\n

To have one’s hands full<\/h2>\n

To be very busy.<\/p>\n

I have my hands full<\/strong> with work and family.<\/div>\n
She had her hands full<\/strong> taking care of three children.<\/div>\n

\"ELLA?<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Hand it to someone<\/h2>\n

To give credit to someone for doing something, to say that someone did a good job.<\/p>\n

I have to hand it to you<\/strong>, that was a great presentation.<\/div>\n
Hand it to him<\/strong>, he really knows how to solve problems.<\/div>\n

First-hand<\/h2>\n

To go through something by ourselves or hear something directly from a person.<\/p>\n

I saw the concert first-hand<\/strong> and it was amazing.<\/div>\n
She had first-hand<\/strong> experience of the company’s operations.<\/div>\n

Get out of hand<\/h2>\n

To get out of control.<\/p>\n

The situation got out of hand<\/strong> quickly.<\/div>\n
The meeting got out of hand<\/strong>, turning into an argument.<\/div>\n

To have a hand in something<\/h2>\n

To be involved in something.<\/p>\n

She had a hand in planning the event<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
He had a hand in creating the new software<\/strong>.<\/div>\n

Take it off one’s hands<\/h2>\n

To take over a task from someone else.<\/p>\n

I’ll take the project off your hands<\/strong> so you can rest.<\/div>\n
She took the cooking off my hands<\/strong>, letting me relax.<\/div>\n

Take matters into one’s own hands<\/h2>\n

To take care of a problem by yourself.<\/p>\n

She took matters into her own hands<\/strong> and fixed the leaking faucet.<\/div>\n
He decided to take matters into his own hands<\/strong> and manage the project himself.<\/div>\n

To have something at hand<\/h2>\n

To have something available or nearby.<\/p>\n

I keep my notes at hand<\/strong> during meetings.<\/div>\n
He had his tools at hand<\/strong> for the repair.<\/div>\n

To play into someone’s hands<\/h2>\n

To do something that is good for someone else, often by accident.<\/p>\n

By agreeing to the deal, he played into the competitor’s hands<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
The mistake played into her hands<\/strong>, giving her an advantage.<\/div>\n

To handpick<\/h2>\n

To select something or someone carefully, by ourselves.<\/p>\n

She handpicked<\/strong> the best candidates for the job.<\/div>\n
He handpicked<\/strong> each flower for the bouquet.<\/div>\n

Give a hand<\/h2>\n

To applaud or clap for someone.<\/p>\n

Let’s give her a hand<\/strong> for her performance!<\/div>\n
They gave him a hand<\/strong> for his inspiring speech.<\/div>\n
\n
SECOND MEANING: to help someone<\/h5>\n
Can you give me a hand<\/strong> with these boxes?<\/div>\n
She gave him a hand<\/strong> with his homework.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To have the upper hand<\/h2>\n

To have an advantage or be in a better position.<\/p>\n

He had the upper hand<\/strong> in the game, leading by many points.<\/div>\n
The new strategy gave her the upper hand<\/strong> at work.<\/div>\n

Did you find the hand idioms interesting? Make sure to also explore our article on health and body idioms<\/a>!<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\"English?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

20 hand idioms Hand idioms are common in English and can describe different situations and behaviors. From offering help to taking control, these idioms cover a wide range of topics, helping you sound more natural in your conversations. Here’s 20 useful hand idioms, with explanations and examples for each. Lend a hand To offer help […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":23928,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14349,51],"tags":[103],"class_list":["post-23809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-englishblog","category-vocabulary","tag-idioms"],"yoast_head":"\n20 Hand Idioms | ELLA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn 20 common hand idioms, their meanings, and usage examples. 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