lone hand

See synonyms for lone hand on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Cards.

    • a person who holds a hand so strong that they can play a deal without the hand of their partner.

    • the hand played by a person whose hand is strong enough to play a deal without a partner.

  2. a person who by preference conducts their affairs without the advice or assistance of others: She is known as a lone hand in investment circles.

  1. a stand or action taken independently: A lone hand in the trade negotiations threw off all plans.

Origin of lone hand

1
First recorded in 1790–1800

Words Nearby lone hand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lone hand in a sentence

  • He actually quitted his cell (for the only occasion on record) and started on a lone-hand raid against his adversaries stronghold.

    The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. Wigram
  • It's a damn shame, but a woman of her sort just goes along and plays out the game with a lone hand.

    The Long Dim Trail | Forrestine C. Hooker
  • Take for instance the man who is playing a lone hand in the Game of Life.

    In Strange Company | Guy Boothby
  • This is a lone hand I'm playin', doctor, and if I'm euchred, tain't your fault.

    Gabriel Conroy | Bert Harte
  • "Tells me that the boy is playing a lone hand," said Pierce with satisfaction.

    The Clarion | Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for lone hand

lone hand

noun
  1. (in card games such as euchre) an independent player or hand played without a partner

  2. play a lone hand to operate without assistance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012