20 HAND idioms
Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Are you in the mood for learning idioms? We will look at 20 idioms using “hand”.
- Be good with your hands
- Big hand
- Bite the hand that feeds you
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
- Can count something on the fingers of one hand
- Catch someone red-handed
- Cold hands, warm heart
- Come to hand
- Eat out of someone’s hand
- Fall into someone’s hands
- Game in hand
- Get the upper hand
- Hand in glove
- Helping hand
- Iron hand/fist
- I’ve only got one pair of hands
- Know something like the back of your hand
- My hands are tied
- Old hand
- Wait on someone hand and foot
Be good with your hands
Meaning: be skilful at things that you do with your hands.
Mary was good with her hands; she could knit beautifully.
Big hand
Meaning: used to tell people in the audience to applaud.
Let’s give a big hand to our pianist.
Bite the hand that feeds you
Meaning: to be ungrateful towards someone you depend on.
You must be kind and polite to your parents. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
20 HAND Idioms
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Meaning: a proverb meaning that it is better to hold onto something you already have instead of risking to lose it by trying to get more.
Michael offered me £50 for the phone immediately but Paul said he could give me £60 in two days. I thought that bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and sold the phone to Michael.
Can count something on the fingers of one hand
Meaning: exists in a small number.
I could count on the fingers of one hand the times that a football player didn’t score.
Catch someone red-handed
Meaning: to discover someone when they are doing something illegal.
They caught Mark red-handed while he was stealing at the supermarket.
Cold hands, warm heart
Meaning: said to someone with cold hands to stop them from being embarrassed.
Come to hand
Meaning: to become available.
When the earthquake started, they took a blanket, a torch and whatever came to hand and left the building.
20 HAND Idioms
Eat out of someone’s hand
Meaning: to be controlled and manipulated by someone.
After the teacher gave them chocolates and let them play computer games during breaks, she had them eat out of her hand.
Fall into someone’s hands
Meaning: to be taken by the enemy or opponent.
The confidential recordings fell into the enemy’s hands.
Game in hand
Meaning: if a sports team has a game in hand over other teams in a competition, it still has an extra game to play in which it can gain points.
Get the upper hand
Meaning: to be in a better position than someone else and control the situation.
After an hour of negotiations, Ron got the upper hand.
Hand in glove
Meaning: to work together with someone, often to do something dishonest or illegal.
The police found out that the management was working hand in glove with a criminal gang.
Helping hand
Meaning: support, assistance.
Sara has been helping hand with the children ever since I got divorced.
20 HAND Idioms
Iron hand/fist
Meaning: firm control.
The dictator was ruling the country with an iron hand.
I’ve only got one pair of hands
Meaning: used to say that you cannot do more than you are already doing.
Sorry, I can’t make you a sandwich. I’m busy. I’ve only got one pair of hands.
Know something like the back of your hand
Meaning: to know something very well.
I know my birth town like the back of my hand.
My hands are tied
Meaning: used to say that you cannot do something because something prevents you.
I wish I could help you with that report but I’m afraid my hands are tied.
Learn phrasal verbs with “hand” on this link
Old hand
Meaning: an experienced person.
Peter is an old hand at computer repairs. I’m sure he can fix it.
20 HAND Idioms
Wait on someone hand and foot
Meaning: to look after someone and provide everything they need.
Our children expect us to wait on them hand and foot.
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Idioms with HAND
1 Comment
Jean-Baptiste ALLOWANOU · 23 Apr 2024 at 6:22 pm
Thank you for this “knowledgeful” post. I’m looking forward to your next post.