hand down

British  

verb

1. to leave to a later period or generation; bequeath

2. to pass (an outgrown garment) on from one member of a family to a younger one

3. law to announce or deliver (a verdict)

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hand down Idioms  

1. Bequeath to one's heirs, as in The silver and jewels have been handed down from generation to generation in that family . [Late 1600s]

2. Make and pronounce an official decision, especially the verdict of a court. For example, The judge wasted no time in handing down a sentence of contempt of court . [First half of 1900s] Also see hand on ; hand over .

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Example Sentences

Immediately, the description of the puffin nation’s most notorious enemy, as handed down from one puffin generation to the next, flooded Major Puff’s memory.

From Literature

He shoved his hands down in his pockets.

From Literature

Slowly, like a creeping cat, she moved through the buzzing wall of bees, reached her hand down the log, and pulled out a chunk of honeycomb, dripping with golden honey.

From Literature

Nike’s stock shot up as much 4.4% in the moments immediately after the tariff ruling was handed down but then reversed course to decline 1.6% in afternoon trading.

From MarketWatch

Nevertheless, lawyers for the victims told the BBC they were disappointed with the length of the jail terms handed down on Thursday, calling them "insignificant".

From BBC

Related Words

• pass on