What is hand? Pronunciation and usage in English

hand means . Learn how to pronounce and use hand through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of hand

handnoun/verb

/hand/
Definition & pronunciation of hand

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "hand" in English. It's a tricky one for some learners!

Here's a breakdown:

  • The sound: The primary sound is a short "a" as in "cat" or "apple." It's not the long "a" as in "cake."

  • The syllable: It's pronounced as "hænd" (rhymes with "band" or "sand").

  • The 'n' sound: The "nd" is a combination of a 'n' followed by a 'd' sound. The 'd' is very light - it's almost silent. You're really just emphasizing the 'n' sound.

Here's a breakdown to help you:

  1. Start with the "h" sound: Like in "hat."
  2. Say the short "a" sound: Like in "cat."
  3. Immediately follow that with a very light "n" sound: Almost like you're just thinking about the 'n' sound and barely making it.

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Translate: Type "hand" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. (https://translate.google.com/)
  • Forvo: This website has pronunciations from native speakers: https://forvo.com/word/hand/

Tip: Try saying "hænd" repeatedly and focusing on getting that light 'n' sound. Don't overemphasize the 'd'.

Do you want me to:

  • Give you another example word to practice?
  • Focus on a specific aspect of the pronunciation (e.g., the light 'd')?

Usage and examples with the word hand in English

Let's break down how to use the word "hand" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different meanings and how to use them, categorized for clarity:

1. The Body Part (Physical Hand)

  • Basic Definition: This is the most obvious – it’s the limb you use for grasping, holding, and manipulating objects.
  • Examples:
    • “I hurt my hand while gardening.”
    • “She shook my hand warmly.”
    • “He held the baby with his hand.”
    • “Wash your hands before you eat.”

2. Helping/Assisting (Giving a Hand)

  • Meaning: To offer help; to assist someone. This is the idiom "to lend a hand."
  • Examples:
    • “Can you lend me a hand with this box?”
    • “She always hands out help to classmates who are struggling.”
    • “They handed over the documents to the solicitor.” (Similar meaning – delivered/gave)

3. Quantity or Number (A Handful)

  • Meaning: A small, roughly measured amount.
  • Examples:
    • “I need a handful of sugar.”
    • “He gave me a handful of flowers.”
    • “She ate a handful of berries.”

4. Part of a Pair (Pair of Hands)

  • Meaning: Referring to both hands working together.
  • Examples:
    • “He used his hands to build the furniture.”
    • “The sculptor shaped the clay with his hands.”

5. (Formal) To Deliver or Give (Hands Over)

  • Meaning: To pass something to someone. This is more formal than "lend a hand."
  • Example:
    • “The government handed over the contract to the company.”

6. In Games/Sports (A Hand)

  • Meaning: Refers to a specific action or turn in a game. (Often used in card games)
  • Examples:
    • “He handed in his cards.” (Poker)
    • “It’s your hand now.” (Bridge)

7. Figurative Meanings – "Hand" as a Symbol

  • Hand of God (Soccer): A controversial goal scored when a player used his hand to intentionally score.
  • Hand of Fate/Destiny: Suggesting that events are predetermined. "It seems like fate is in her hand."

8. Phrases with “Hand”

  • By hand: Written or done manually. "He wrote the letter by hand."
  • Give hand: (Slang) To try to impress someone. “He was giving hand to get her attention.”
  • A good hand: (Poker) A strong starting hand in a card game.
  • Clean hands: (Idiom) Meaning honest/untainted. “He has clean hands in this matter.”

Tips for Using “Hand” Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of “hand” depends entirely on the sentence.
  • Pay attention to idioms: “Lend a hand” is a common idiom, and understanding it is important.
  • Consider formality: "Hand over" is more formal than "lend a hand."

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to do with the word "hand"? (e.g., "I'm writing a story," "I need to understand if I used it correctly," "I want to learn more idioms.")

Synonyms for the word hand

Idioms of the word hand

all hands on deck
(saying, humorous)everyone helps or must help, especially in a difficult situation
  • There are 30 people coming to dinner tonight, so it's all hands on deck.
(close/near) at hand
close to you in time or distance
  • Help was at hand.
  • The property is ideally located with all local amenities close at hand.
at the hands of somebody | at somebody’s hands
(formal)if you experience something at the hands of somebody, they are the cause of it
  • They suffered years of repression at the hands of the old regime.
be good with your hands
to show skill at making or doing things with your hands
    bind/tie somebody hand and foot
    to tie somebody’s hands and feet together so that they cannot move or escape
      to prevent somebody from doing what they want by creating rules, limits, etc.
        a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
        (saying)it is better to keep something that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much more
          bite the hand that feeds you
          to harm somebody who has helped you or supported you
            by hand
            by a person rather than a machine
            • The fabric was painted by hand.
            • Delicate clothes should be washed by hand.
            • We can apply the power of computational tools in solving mathematical problems that cannot be solved by hand.
            if a letter is delivered by hand, it is delivered by the person who wrote it, or somebody who is sent by them, rather than by post
              cash in hand
              (British English, informal)if you pay for goods and services cash in hand, you pay in cash, especially so that the person being paid can avoid paying tax on the amount
              • a cash-in-hand payment of £20
              change hands
              to pass to a different owner
              • The house has changed hands several times.
              close at hand
              near; in a place where somebody/something can be reached easily
              • There are good cafes and a restaurant close at hand.
              the dead hand of something
              an influence that controls or limits something
              • We need to free business from the dead hand of bureaucracy.
              the devil makes work for idle hands
              (saying)people who do not have enough to do often start to do wrong
              • She blamed the crimes on the local jobless teenagers. ‘The devil makes work for idle hands,’ she would say.
              eat out of your/somebody’s hand
              to trust somebody and be willing to do what they say
              • She'll have them eating out of her hand in no time.
              fall into somebody’s hands/the hands of somebody
              (formal)to become controlled by somebody
              • The town fell into enemy hands.
              • We don't want this document falling into the wrong hands.
              • After the war, the hotel fell into the hands of an American consortium.
              a firm hand
              strong control or discipline
              • Those children need a firm hand to make them behave.
              (at) first hand
              by experiencing, seeing, etc. something yourself rather than being told about it by somebody else
              • The President visited the area to see the devastation at first hand.
              fold your hands
              to bring or hold your hands together
              • She kept her hands folded in her lap.
              force somebody’s hand
              to make somebody do something that they do not want to do or make them do it sooner than they had intended
              • They decided to strike to force the management’s hand.
              gain, get, have, etc. the upper hand
              to get an advantage over somebody so that you are in control of a particular situation
                get your hands dirty
                to do physical work
                • He's not frightened of getting his hands dirty.
                get, have, etc. a free hand
                to get, have, etc. the opportunity to do what you want to do and to make your own decisions
                • I was given a free hand in designing the syllabus.
                give somebody/get a big hand
                to show your approval of somebody by clapping your hands; to be applauded in this way
                • Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a big hand to our special guests tonight.
                give/lend a helping hand
                to help somebody
                  go cap in hand (to somebody)
                  to ask somebody for something, especially money, in a very polite way that makes you seem less important
                  • There’s no way he’ll go cap in hand to his brother.
                  somebody’s hand (in marriage)
                  (old-fashioned)permission to marry somebody, especially a woman
                  • He asked the general for his daughter's hand in marriage.
                  hand in glove (with somebody)
                  working closely with somebody, especially in a secret and/or illegal way
                    hand in hand
                    if two people are hand in hand, they are holding each other’s hand
                    • They walked through the park hand in hand.
                    if two things go hand in hand, they are closely connected and one thing causes the other
                    • Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand.
                    hands down
                    (informal)easily and without any doubt
                    • They won hands down.
                    • It is hands down the best movie this year.
                    (get/take/keep your) hands off (something/somebody)
                    (informal)used to tell somebody not to touch something/somebody
                    • Get your hands off my wife!
                    • Hey, hands off! That's my drink!
                    • She warned her brother to keep his hands off her bag.
                    hands up!
                    used to tell a group of people to raise one hand in the air if they know the answer to a question, etc.
                    • Hands up all those who want to go swimming.
                    used by somebody who is threatening people with a gun to tell them to raise both hands in the air
                      have somebody’s blood on your hands
                      to be responsible for somebody’s death
                      • a dictator with the blood of thousands on his hands
                      have your hands full
                      to be very busy or too busy to do something else
                      • She certainly has her hands full with four kids in the house.
                      have your hands tied
                      to be unable to do what you want to do because of rules, promises, etc.
                      • I really wish I could help but my hands are tied.
                      have somebody in the palm of your hand
                      to have complete control or influence over somebody
                      • Even before he plays a note, he has the audience in the palm of his hand.
                      have time on your hands | have time to kill
                      (informal)to have nothing to do or not be busy
                        have/hold, etc. the whip hand (over somebody/something)
                        to be in a position where you have power or control over somebody/something
                        • She had the whip hand and it was useless to resist.
                        heavy hand
                        a way of doing something or of treating people that is much stronger and less sensitive than it needs to be
                        • the heavy hand of management
                        hold somebody’s hand
                        to give somebody support in a difficult situation
                        • Do you want me to come along and hold your hand?
                        hold/put your hands up (to something)
                        to admit that you have made a mistake or are responsible for something bad
                        • I have to hold my hands up and admit that some of the problems have been all my own fault.
                        • The solicitor confirmed that his clients were holding their hands up to the offences.
                        in somebody’s capable, safe, etc. hands
                        being taken care of or dealt with by somebody that you think you can rely on
                        • Can I leave these queries in your capable hands?
                        • He retired feeling confident that his company was in safe hands.
                        in hand
                        if you have time or money in hand, it is left and available to be used
                        • We managed to redecorate the house and still have some savings in hand.
                        • She completed the first part of the exam with over an hour in hand.
                        if you have a particular situation in hand, you are in control of it
                        • Don’t worry about the travel arrangements—everything is in hand.
                        the job, question, etc. in hand is the one that you are dealing with
                        • Please confine your comments to the topic in hand.
                        if somebody works a week, month, etc. in hand, they are paid for the work a week, etc. after they have completed it
                          in the hands of somebody | in somebody’s hands
                          being taken care of or controlled by somebody
                          • The matter is now in the hands of my lawyer.
                          • At that time, the castle was in enemy hands.
                          in safe hands | in the safe hands of somebody
                          being taken care of well by somebody
                          • I've left the kids in safe hands—with my parents.
                          • Their problem was in the safe hands of the experts.
                          an iron fist/hand (in a velvet glove)
                          if you use the words an iron fist/hand when describing the way that somebody behaves, you mean that they treat people severely. This treatment may be hidden behind a kind appearance (the velvet glove).
                          • They promised that the army would strike with an iron fist at any resistance.
                          • The iron hand in the velvet glove approach seems to work best with this age group.
                          I’ve only got one pair of hands
                          (informal)used to say that you are too busy to do anything else
                            join hands (with somebody)
                            if two people join hands, they hold each other’s hands
                              to work together in doing something
                              • Education has been reluctant to join hands with business.
                              keep your hand in
                              to occasionally do something that you used to do a lot so that you do not lose your skill at it
                              • She retired last year but still teaches the odd class to keep her hand in.
                              know somebody/something inside out | know somebody/something like the back of your hand
                              (informal)to be very familiar with somebody/something
                              • This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my hand.
                              lay/get your hands on somebody
                              to catch somebody that you are annoyed with
                              • Wait till I get my hands on him!
                              lay/get your hands on something
                              to find or get something
                              • I know their address is here somewhere, but I can't lay my hands on it right now.
                              • I desperately need to get my hands on some money by Monday.
                              live (from) hand to mouth
                              to spend all the money you earn on basic needs such as food without being able to save any money
                                make/lose money hand over fist
                                to make/lose money very fast and in large quantities
                                  many hands make light work
                                  (saying)used to say that a job is made easier if a lot of people help
                                    not do a hand’s turn
                                    (old-fashioned)to do no work
                                    • She hasn't done a hand's turn all week.
                                    not lift/raise a finger/hand (to do something)
                                    (informal)to do nothing to help somebody
                                    • The children never lift a finger to help around the house.
                                    offer your hand
                                    (formal)to hold out your hand for somebody to shake
                                      off your hands
                                      no longer your responsibility
                                        on either/every hand
                                        (literary)on both/all sides; in both/all directions
                                        • Mist curled from the water on either hand.
                                        on hand
                                        available, especially to help
                                        • The emergency services were on hand with medical advice.
                                        on your hands
                                        if you have somebody/something on your hands, you are responsible for or have to deal with them/it
                                        • Let me take care of the invitations—you've enough on your hands with the caterers.
                                        • They’ll have a fight on their hands if they want to close down the school.
                                        (on the one hand…) on the other (hand)…
                                        used to introduce different points of view, ideas, etc., especially when they are opposites
                                        • On the one hand they'd love to have kids, but on the other, they don't want to give up their freedom.
                                        out of hand
                                        difficult or impossible to control
                                        • Unemployment is getting out of hand.
                                        if you reject, etc. something out of hand, you do so immediately without thinking about it fully or listening to other people’s arguments
                                        • All our suggestions were dismissed out of hand.
                                        out of your hands
                                        no longer your responsibility
                                        • I'm afraid the matter is now out of my hands.
                                        overplay your hand
                                        to fail to achieve success by judging your position to be stronger than it really is
                                          a pair of hands
                                          (informal)a person who can do, or is doing, a job
                                          • We need an extra pair of hands if we're going to finish on time.
                                          play into somebody’s hands
                                          to do exactly what an enemy, opponent, etc. wants so that they gain the advantage in a particular situation
                                          • If we get the police involved, we'll be playing right into the protesters' hands.
                                          put your hand in your pocket
                                          (British English)to spend money or give it to somebody
                                          • I've heard he doesn't like putting his hand in his pocket.
                                          (like) putty in somebody’s hands
                                          easily controlled or influenced by another person
                                          • She'll persuade him. He's like putty in her hands.
                                          raise a/your hand against/to somebody
                                          to hit or threaten to hit somebody
                                            a safe pair of hands
                                            (especially British English)a person that you can trust to do a job well
                                            • Colleagues regard him as a safe pair of hands.
                                            (at) second, third, etc. hand
                                            by being told about something by somebody else who has seen it or heard about it, not by experiencing, seeing, etc. it yourself
                                            • I'm fed up of hearing about these decisions third hand!
                                            show your hand/cards
                                            to make your plans or intentions known
                                              a show of hands
                                              a way of voting for or against something in which people raise their hands to vote
                                              • The vote was passed by a show of hands.
                                              • Let’s have a show of hands. Who’s in favour of the proposal?
                                              stay your hand
                                              (old-fashioned or literary)to stop yourself from doing something; to prevent you from doing something
                                              • It was prudence, not logic, that stayed his hand.
                                              take your courage in both hands
                                              to make yourself do something that you are afraid of
                                              • Taking her courage in both hands, she opened the door and walked in.
                                              take somebody in hand
                                              to deal with somebody in a strict way in order to improve their behaviour
                                                take something into your own hands
                                                to deal with a particular situation yourself because you are not happy with the way that others are dealing with it
                                                  take the law into your own hands
                                                  to do something illegal in order to punish somebody for doing something wrong, instead of letting the police deal with them
                                                  • After a series of burglaries in the area, the police are worried that residents might take the law into their own hands.
                                                  • When police failed to arrest the suspect, local people took the law into their own hands and beat him up.
                                                  take your life in your hands
                                                  to risk being killed
                                                  • You take your life in your hands just crossing the road here.
                                                  throw your hand in
                                                  (informal)to stop doing something or taking part in something, especially because you are not successful
                                                    throw up your hands
                                                    to raise both hands in the air to show that you are feeling annoyed or upset about something
                                                    • We threw up our hands in despair at the scale of the problem.
                                                    to hand
                                                    that you can reach or get easily
                                                    • I'm afraid I don't have the latest figures to hand.
                                                    • Keep a pen and paper to hand for details of this week’s competition.
                                                    try your hand (at something)
                                                    to do something such as an activity or a sport for the first time
                                                      turn your hand to something
                                                      to start doing something or be able to do something, especially when you do it well
                                                      • Jim can turn his hand to most jobs around the house.
                                                      wait on somebody hand and foot
                                                      (disapproving)to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves
                                                      • He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot.
                                                      wash your hands of somebody/something
                                                      to refuse to be responsible for or involved with somebody/something
                                                      • When her son was arrested again she washed her hands of him.
                                                      • I’ve washed my hands of the whole sordid business.
                                                      win (something) hands down
                                                      (informal)to win something very easily
                                                        wring somebody’s hand
                                                        to press somebody’s hand very hard when you shake hands
                                                          wring your hands
                                                          to hold your hands together, and twist and press them together in a way that shows you are anxious or upset, especially when you cannot change the situation

                                                            Practice with vocabulary hand

                                                            Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

                                                            1. Please ______ in your final reports to the department head by Friday afternoon.
                                                            2. The IT support team is always ready to lend a ______ when technical issues arise.
                                                            3. For complex software installations, the company provides comprehensive technical ______ through a dedicated portal.
                                                            4. She used her index ______ to highlight a specific data point on the projected graph during the presentation.

                                                            Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

                                                            1. During the leadership transition, the outgoing CEO was expected to ______ all executive responsibilities and proprietary information to her successor. a) hand over b) turn in c) pass down d) deliver

                                                            2. We need more customer service representatives ______ to handle the increased call volume during the holiday season. a) on hand b) available c) present d) ready

                                                            3. The antique clock had a delicate minute ______ that had stopped moving, requiring a skilled watchmaker's attention. a) pointer b) needle c) hand d) indicator

                                                            4. Before entering the secure area, visitors are required to ______ their identification badges to the security personnel. a) show b) present c) display d) exhibit

                                                            5. Effective ______ dexterity is essential for surgeons performing intricate procedures. a) optical b) visual c) motor d) manual

                                                            Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

                                                            1. Employees must submit their expense reports by the end of the month. (Rewrite using a phrasal verb with "hand")

                                                            2. Could you please assist me with organizing these project files before the audit? (Rewrite using an idiom with "hand")

                                                            3. The discussion about the project's unexpected cost overruns quickly became uncontrollable. (Rewrite the sentence, replacing the idea of "uncontrollable" without using "hand")

                                                            Answer:

                                                            Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

                                                            1. hand
                                                            2. hand
                                                            3. support (or assistance)
                                                            4. finger

                                                            Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

                                                            1. a) hand over (Also b) turn in, but 'hand over' specifically refers to formal transfer of authority/items)
                                                            2. a) on hand (Also b) available, c) present, d) ready, but 'on hand' is the specific idiom with 'hand')
                                                            3. c) hand
                                                            4. a) show, b) present, c) display, d) exhibit (All are correct and synonymous in this context)
                                                            5. d) manual

                                                            Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

                                                            1. Employees must hand in their expense reports by the end of the month.
                                                            2. Could you please lend a hand with organizing these project files before the audit?
                                                            3. The discussion about the project's unexpected cost overruns quickly became unmanageable.

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