Idioms containing HAND
TOP words in categories
EAT OUT OF (SOMEONE'S) HAND
to be submissive
1. Jerry will do anything Lisa wants. She has him eating out of her hand.
2. The politician was so polished that had the crowd eating out of his hand by the end of his speech.
2. The politician was so polished that had the crowd eating out of his hand by the end of his speech.
GET/LEND (SOMEONE) A HAND
to help someone
1. I need some help lifting these boxes. Who can give me a hand?
2. They gave him a hand with his rent and utility bills while he was unemployed.
2. They gave him a hand with his rent and utility bills while he was unemployed.
HAND IN GLOVE
close or intimate
1. Tom and Kate were made for each other. They go hand in glove.
2. Those two workhorses pull that plow as though they were one animal. They work together hand in glove.
2. Those two workhorses pull that plow as though they were one animal. They work together hand in glove.
HAND OVER FIST
extremely quickly
1. In the ten years we owned that house, we were never able to get it into good repair. We poured money into it hand over fist, but nothing helped.
2. Paul’s candy was such a success at the fair, his stall was always busy with buyers. He was taking in money hand over fist , faster than he could count it.
2. Paul’s candy was such a success at the fair, his stall was always busy with buyers. He was taking in money hand over fist , faster than he could count it.
HAND TO MOUTH
to live in poor conditions from day to day; to be impoverished
1. When Brad lost his regular job, he had to take any temporary one that came along, and he never knew when he’d find another. He lived hand to mouth.
2. Some people in areas affected by drought live a hand-to-mouth existence. They collect what little food they can and never have enough to save some for another day.
2. Some people in areas affected by drought live a hand-to-mouth existence. They collect what little food they can and never have enough to save some for another day.
KNOW SMTH. LIKE THE BACK OF ONE'S HAND
to have detailed knowledge of smth.
1. I know this area like the back of my hand.
OLD HAND
someone who is very experienced and skilled in a particular area of activity
1. We should be able to trust Silva to negotiate a good deal for us - he's an old hand at the game.
2. I, being an old hand at all of these matters, take a rather wider view.
2. I, being an old hand at all of these matters, take a rather wider view.
TO HAVE/GAIN THE UPPER HAND
to have more power than someone else, so that you're able to control a situation
1. The police have gained the upper hand over the drug dealers in the area.
2. He usually has the upper hand because he's older.
2. He usually has the upper hand because he's older.
WASH (ONE'S) HANDS OF (SMTH./SOMEONE)
to put smth. out of one’s life or to stop claiming responsibility for smth.
1. I’m tired of trying to help my brother find a job, and I won’t have anything further to do with him. I wash my hands of the whole business.
2. They agreed to go into business with their friend, but later found that he treated them unfairly. They decided they wanted nothing more to do with him, so they washed their hands of him.
2. They agreed to go into business with their friend, but later found that he treated them unfairly. They decided they wanted nothing more to do with him, so they washed their hands of him.
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