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— By hand, with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed
a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand. — Clean hands, freedom from guilt, esp. from the
guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger
and stronger." Job xvii. 9. — From hand to hand, from one person to another. — Hand in hand.
(a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. Swift. (b) Just; fair; equitable.
As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison. Shak.
— Hand over hand, Hand over fist,
by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand; also, rapidly; as,
to come up with a chase hand over hand. — Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what
one does. [Obs.] Bacon. — Hand running, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running. —
Hands off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling! — Hand to hand, in close union; in close
fight; as, a hand to hand contest. Dryden. — Heavy hand, severity or oppression. — In hand. (a)
Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . . a far greater reward hereafter." Tillotson. (b)
In preparation; taking place. Chaucer. "Revels . . . in hand." Shak. (c) Under consideration, or in
the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand. — In one's hand or hands. (a) In one's
possession or keeping. (b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand. — Laying on of hands,
a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons. — Light hand,
gentleness; moderation. — Note of hand, a promissory note. — Off hand, Out of hand, forthwith; without
delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand." Spenser. —
Off one's hands, out of one's possession or care. — On hand, in present possession; as, he has a
supply of goods on hand. — On one's hands, in one's possession care, or management. — Putting
the hand under the thigh, an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing. — Right hand, the place
of honor, power, and strength. — Slack hand, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth. — Strict hand,
severe discipline; rigorous government. — To bear a hand (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten. —
To bear in hand, to keep in expectation with false pretenses. [Obs.] Shak. — To be hand and
glove, or in glove, with. See under Glove. — To be on the mending hand, to be convalescent
or improving. — To bring up by hand, to feed (an infant) without suckling it. — To change hand.
See Change. — To change hands, to change sides, or change owners. Hudibras. — To clap
the hands, to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together. — To come
to hand, to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday. — To get
hand, to gain influence. [Obs.]
Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them. Baxter.
— To get one's hand in, to make a beginning
in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business. — To have a hand in, to be concerned
in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in. — To have in hand. (a)
To have in one's power or control. Chaucer. (b) To be engaged upon or occupied with. — To have
one's hands full, to have in hand all that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be
pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties. — To have, or get, the (higher)
upper hand, to have, or get, the better of another person or thing. — To his hand, To my hand,
etc., in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands." Locke. — To hold hand, to
compete successfully or on even conditions. [Obs.] Shak. — To lay hands on, to seize; to assault.
— To lend a hand, to give assistance. — To lift, or put forth, the hand against, to attack; to oppose; to
kill. — To live from hand to mouth, to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without
previous provision. - - To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit. — To put the hand unto,
to steal. Ex. xxii. 8.— To put the last, or finishing, hand to, to make the last corrections in; to
complete; to perfect. — To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake.
That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to. Deut. xxiii. 20.
— To stand
one in hand, to concern or affect one. — To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety
for another's debt or good behavior. — To take in hand. (a) To attempt or undertake. (b) To seize
and deal with; as, he took him in hand. — To wash the hands of, to disclaim or renounce interest
in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business. Matt. xxvii. 24. —
Under the hand of, authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under
the hand and seal of the owner.
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