turn one's hand to

Variant of hand

hand definition

hand (hand)

noun

  1. the part of the human body attached to the end of the forearm, including the wrist, palm, fingers, and thumb a corresponding part in some animals; specif.,
    1. any of the four feet in apes, monkeys, etc., used like human hands for grasping and gripping
    2. the end part of the forelimb in many of the higher vertebrates
    3. the pincerlike claw of a crustacean
    a side, direction, or position indicated by one hand or the other at one's right hand
  2. the hand as an instrument for making or producing the hand as a symbol of its grasping or gripping function; specif.,
    1. possession the documents now in his hands
    2. control; power; authority to strengthen one's hand
    3. care; charge; supervision in the hands of one's lawyer
    4. agency; influence to see someone's hand in a matter
    5. an active part; share take a hand in the work
    the hand as a symbol of promise; specif.,
    1. a clasp or handshake as a pledge of agreement, friendship, etc.
    2. a promise to marry he asked for her hand
  3. skill; ability; dexterity the work that shows a master's hand manner of doing something to play the piano with a light hand
    1. handwriting
    2. a signature
    a clapping of hands; applause to receive a big hand for one's performance assistance; aid; help to lend a hand
  5. a person whose chief work is done with the hands, esp., one of a staff or crew, as a sailor or farm laborer a person regarded as having some special skill or characteristic quite a hand at sewing a person (or, sometimes, thing) from or through which something comes; source [essays by several hands]: often used with an ordinal number
  6. a conventional drawing of a hand () used on signposts, etc. an indicator; pointer the hands of a clock the breadth of the human palm, used as a unit of measurement, esp. for the height of horses: now usually taken to be 4 inchesCommerce a banana cluster
  7. Card Games
    1. the cards held by a player at any one time
    2. the conventional number of cards dealt to each player
    3. a player
    4. a round of play
    ☆ a small tied bundle, esp. of tobacco leaves the way cloth held in the hand feels

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Goth handus < base of -hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense “grasper”) < ? IE base *kent-, ? to seize

adjective

  1. of or for the hand or hands
  2. made by hand
  3. controlled by hand; manual

transitive verb

  1. to pass or give with or as with the hand; transfer; transmit; deliver
  2. ☆ to give; provide with it handed them a laugh
  3. to help, conduct, steady, etc. by means of the hand to hand a lady into her car
  4. Naut. to furl (a sail)
hand Idioms

(at) first hand

from the original source; directly

at hand

  1. near; close by
  2. immediately available

(at) second hand

  1. not from the original source; indirectly
  2. not new; previously used

at the hand of

or at the hands of
through the action of

by hand

not by machines but with the hands

change hands

to pass from one owner to another

eat out of someone's hand

to be completely dominated by or devoted to someone

force someone's hand

Etymology: orig. a whist term

to force someone to act, or declare intentions, before he or she is ready

from hand to hand

from one person's possession to another's

from hand to mouth

with just enough for immediate needs and nothing left over for the future

hand and foot

  1. so that the hands and feet cannot move bound hand and foot
  2. constantly and diligently to wait on someone hand and foot

hand down

  1. to give as an inheritance; bequeath
  2. ☆ to announce or deliver (a verdict, etc.)

hand in

to give; submit

hand in glove

or hand and glove
in intimate association; in close agreement or cooperation

hand in hand

  1. holding each other's hand
  2. together; in cooperation or correlation

hand it to

☆
Slang to give deserved credit to

hand off

Sports to hand (the ball) to a teammate during a play

hand on

to pass along; transmit

hand out

to distribute; deal out

hand over

to give up; deliver

hand over fist

Informal easily and in large amounts

hands down

without effort; easily

hands off!

don't touch!don't interfere!

hands up!

☆ raise your hands over your head!: an order given by a person pointing a gun, etc.

hand to hand

at close quarters: said of fighting

hand up

to present (an indictment) to a court: said of a grand jury

have one's hands full

to be extremely busy; be doing as much as one can

hold hands

to hold each other's hand, esp. in affection

in hand

  1. in order or control
  2. in possession
  3. being worked on; in process

join hands

  1. to become associates; enter into partnership
  2. to become husband and wife

keep one's hand in

to keep in practice in order to retain one's skill

lay hands on

  1. to attack, injure, or punish physically
  2. to get hold of; seize; take
  3. to place the hands on ceremonially, as in blessing or ordaining

not lift a hand

to do nothing; not even try

off one's hands

no longer in one's care; out of one's responsibility

on every hand

on all sides; in all directions

on hand

  1. near
  2. ☆ available or ready
  3. ☆ present

on one's hands

in one's care; being one's responsibility

on the one hand

from one point of view

on the other hand

from the opposed point of view

out of hand

  1. out of control
  2. immediately; without preliminaries or delay
  3. over and done with

show one's hand

Etymology: orig. with reference to card playing

to disclose one's intentions

take in hand

  1. to take control of or responsibility for
  2. to take up; handle; treat
  3. to try; attempt

throw up one's hands

to give up in despair

to hand

  1. near; accessible
  2. in one's possession

turn (or put) one's hand to

to undertake; work at

wash one's hands of

to refuse to go on with or take responsibility for

with a heavy hand

  1. in a heavy manner; without delicacy or grace
  2. with severity or sternness

with a high hand

with arrogance; in an arbitrary or dictatorial manner

with clean hands

without guilt; as an innocent person

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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