Some “hanging judges” have handed down hundreds of death sentences at a time.
No indictments have been handed down against the police officers in question.
The last of the cigars was handed out and the Che lookalike was paid and went back in search of other tourists.
These medications will not continue to work when we need them if they are handed out like candy.
There is a distinct smell of apples, which are handed out by volunteer workers.
He handed the letter to Robert, who surveyed it with curiosity.
To the porter who answered his ring he handed the message to be put off at the first stop.
He went up and handed it to her through the narrowly opened door.
With these words, he handed the pencil to the professor and returned to his seat.
Katherine handed Austin the pistol which she had taken from Dick's hand.
in compounds, "having hands" (of a certain type), mid-14c., from hand (n.).
Old English hond, hand "hand; side; power, control, possession," from Proto-Germanic *khanduz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch, German hand, Old Norse hönd, Gothic handus). The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.
Meaning "person who does something with his hands" is from 1580s, hence "hired workman" (1630s) and "sailor in a ship's crew" (1660s). Clock and watch sense is from 1570s. Meaning "round of applause" is from 1838. The linear measure of 4 inches (originally 3) is from 1560s, now used only in giving the height of horses. The meaning "playing cards held in one player's hand" is from 1620s; that of "a round at a card game" is from 1620s.
First hand, second hand, etc. (mid-15c.) are from the notion of something being passed down from hand to hand. Out of hand (1590s) is opposite of in hand "under control" (c.1200). Hand over fist (1825) is suggestive of sailors and fishermen hauling in nets. Hand jive is from 1958. To win something hands down (1855) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory.
The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes was not the best contested one that it has been our fortune to assist at. ... [T]hey were won by Meteor, with Scott for his rider; who went by the post with his hands down, the easiest of all easy half-lengths. Wiseacre certainly did the best in his power to spoil his position, and Misdeal was at one time a little vexatious. ["The Sportsman," report from April 26, 1840]To hand it to (someone) "acknowledge someone's ability" is slang from c.1906. Phrase on the one hand ... on the other hand is recorded from 1630s, a figurative use of the physical sense of hand in reference to position on one side or the other side of the body (as in the lefthand side), which goes back to Old English Hands up! as a command from a policeman, robber, etc., is from 1873. Hand-to-mouth is from c.1500. Hand-in-hand attested from c.1500 as "with hands clasped;" figurative sense of "concurrently" recorded from 1570s.
c.1400, "take charge of, seize," from hand (n.). Meaning "to pass (something to someone)" is from 1640s. Related: Handed; handing.
handed hand·ed (hān'dĭd)
adj.
Of, relating to, or characterizing the dexterity, preference, or size with respect to a hand or hands.
hand (hānd)
n.
The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.
A homologous or similar part in other animals.
Related Terms
verb
To give, esp something not desired; bestow forcefully, fraudulently, etc: The Red Sox handed the Yankees a 12 to 3 shellacking/ What kind of con job was he trying to hand you? (1919+)
Related Terms
both hands, cool hand, dead man's hand, give someone the glad hand, glad-hand, have one's hands full, not lay a glove on someone, tip one's mitt, with one's hand in the till, with one hand tied behind one's back