Definition

Adverb 1. Clasping each other's hands; holding hands: Describes the physical act of two or more people holding each other's hands, typically while walking or standing. 2. Together; in close association or cooperation: Describes two or more things that are closely connected, work jointly, or occur simultaneously.

Usage Examples

• Clasping hands:

  • The couple walked hand in hand along the beach at sunset.
  • The children crossed the street hand in hand with their teacher.

• In close association:

  • Economic growth often goes hand in hand with increased energy consumption.
  • For this project to succeed, the design and engineering teams must work hand in hand.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used metaphorically to describe an inseparable or necessary connection between two concepts, conditions, or groups.
  • In this company, innovation goes hand in hand with a willingness to take calculated risks.

Variants and Related Words

• Hand-in-hand (Adjective - hyphenated): Used before a noun to describe a close, cooperative relationship.
  • They maintained a hand-in-hand partnership throughout the crisis.

Synonyms

• Arm in arm: Similar to the physical sense, but linking arms instead of holding hands.
• Jointly: In cooperation with others.
• In tandem: Working or occurring one behind the other or together.

Related Idioms

• Go hand in hand (with): To be closely associated or connected with something else; to happen or exist together.
  • Trust and communication go hand in hand in a healthy relationship.

Adverb

1. clasping each other's hands
   • they walked hand in hand
2. together
   • hand in hand with hope went fear
   • doctors and nurses work hand in hand to save lives