hand

/hænd/

Thân thiện

A child raises their hand in class.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb: The part of the body used for grasping and holding.
   • A pointer on a clock or watch: The indicator that shows the time.
   • A unit of measurement for the height of horses: Equal to four inches (approximately 10.16 cm).
   • A person who does physical work or is part of a crew: A worker, laborer, or member of a ship's crew.
   • The set of cards held by a player in a game: The cards dealt to a player.
   • Skill or ability in doing something, especially with the hands: Manual skill or dexterity.
   • A person's handwriting: The style or form of a person's writing.
   • A round of applause: Clapping to show approval or appreciation.
   • Influence, control, or participation: Involvement or agency in a situation.
   • A side or aspect in a discussion or argument: One of two or more contrasting perspectives.
   • A bunch of bananas: A cluster of bananas growing together.

2. Verb:

   • To pass or give something to someone using the hand: To transfer something physically.
   • To help or guide someone by the hand: To assist someone in moving.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She injured her hand while gardening. (She injured the end part of her arm.)
  • The minute hand on the clock is broken. (The pointer that shows minutes is broken.)
  • That horse is over 16 hands tall. (That horse measures over 16 units of four inches.)
  • We need an extra hand on the farm during harvest. (We need an extra worker.)
  • He was dealt a terrible hand in the poker game. (He received a bad set of cards.)
  • She has a real hand for pottery. (She has a natural skill for making pottery.)
  • I recognized his neat hand on the envelope. (I recognized his distinctive handwriting.)
  • Let's give the performers a big hand! (Let's give them a loud round of applause.)
  • The documents are now in the lawyer's hands. (The documents are under the lawyer's control.)
  • On the one hand, I want to go; on the other hand, I should stay. (From one perspective, I want to go; from another, I should stay.)
  • He bought a hand of bananas from the market. (He bought a cluster of bananas.)

• Verb:

  • Could you hand me the salt, please? (Could you pass the salt to me?)
  • The usher handed the guests to their seats. (The usher guided the guests by leading them.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a hand in (something)": to be involved in an activity or event.
  • She had a hand in organizing the charity event.
• "to hand it to (someone)": to give credit or praise to someone.
  • You have to hand it to her; she never gives up.
• "at hand": nearby or readily available; or happening soon.
  • Keep a first-aid kit at hand. (Keep it nearby.)
  • The exam period is at hand. (It is coming soon.)
• "in hand": under control; or currently being dealt with.
  • Don't worry, the situation is in hand.
  • The project in hand is our top priority.
• "on hand": available or present.
  • Extra staff will be on hand for the festival.
• "out of hand": immediately and without consideration; or out of control.
  • My request was rejected out of hand.
  • The party got out of hand and the police were called.

Variants and Related Words

• Handy (adj): convenient to use or hold; skillful with the hands.
  • A handy tool; a handy person.
• Handful (n): an amount that fits in the hand; (informal) a person or thing that is difficult to manage.
  • A handful of nuts; The toddler is a real handful.
• Handwriting (n): writing done by hand with a pen or pencil.
  • Her handwriting is very elegant.
• Handyman (n): a person skilled at various small repair jobs.
  • We called a handyman to fix the leak.

Synonyms

• Noun (for the body part): Palm, fist.
• Noun (for a worker): Laborer, worker, operative, crew member.
• Verb (to pass): Give, pass, deliver, transfer.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hand down: to pass something (often a tradition or possession) to a younger generation or successor.
  • This recipe has been handed down in our family for generations.
• Hand in: to submit or deliver something to an authority.
  • Students must hand in their essays by Friday.
• Hand out: to distribute something to a group of people.
  • Volunteers will hand out flyers at the entrance.
• Hand over: to give something to someone else, especially a position of authority or a responsibility.
  • The CEO will hand over the reins to her successor next month.

Related Idioms

• "Bite the hand that feeds you": to act badly toward someone who has helped you.
  • Criticizing your boss publicly is like biting the hand that feeds you.
• "Force someone's hand": to make someone do something or reveal their plans earlier than they wanted.
  • The leak of information forced the company's hand.
• "Hand in glove": working very closely together, often for a dishonest purpose.
  • The two politicians were hand in glove with the corrupt officials.
• "Hand over fist": very quickly and in large amounts (usually regarding earning or losing money).
  • The new business is making money hand over fist.
• "Live from hand to mouth": to have just enough money to meet basic needs, with no extra.
  • After losing his job, his family lived from hand to mouth.
• "Wash one's hands of (something/someone)": to refuse to be involved with or responsible for someone or something any longer.
  • After the scandal, he washed his hands of the entire affair.

Học thuật

Noun

1. physical assistance
   • give me a hand with the chores
2. terminal part of the forelimb in certain vertebrates (e.g. apes or kangaroos)
   • the kangaroo's forearms seem undeveloped but the powerful five-fingered hands are skilled at feinting and clouting- Springfield (Mass.) Union
3. a round of applause to signify approval
   • give the little lady a great big hand
4. a card player in a game of bridge
   • we need a 4th hand for bridge
5. a member of the crew of a ship
   • all hands on deck
6. a unit of length equal to 4 inches; used in measuring horses
   • the horse stood 20 hands
7. a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece
   • the big hand counts the minutes
8. one of two sides of an issue
   • on the one hand..., but on the other hand...
9. the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time
   • I didn't hold a good hand all evening
   • he kept trying to see my hand
10. a position given by its location to the side of an object
    • objections were voiced on every hand
11. ability
    • he wanted to try his hand at singing
12. something written by hand
    • she recognized his handwriting
    • his hand was illegible
13. a hired laborer on a farm or ranch
    • the hired hand fixed the railing
    • a ranch hand
14. the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
    • he had the hands of a surgeon
    • he extended his mitt

Verb

1. guide or conduct or usher somewhere
   • hand the elderly lady into the taxi
2. place into the hands or custody of
   • hand me the spoon, please
   • Turn the files over to me, please
   • He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers

Từ đồng nghĩa

• helping hand
• bridge player
• deal
• handwriting
• script
• hired hand
• hired man
• manus
• mitt
• paw
• pass
• reach
• pass on
• turn over
• give