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hand over hand

Idioms  

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With the aid of an "elbow" joint, it will shift position by moving hand over hand.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2021

“They formed a human chain, passing the books hand over hand from one person to the next, through the smoky building and out the door,” Orlean writes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2019

He grabs a cord leading out of the tube and reels it up, hand over hand, until a cigar-shaped capsule emerges—a packet of neutron-absorbing cadmium.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 31, 2017

The fireball caused burns over more than 70 percent of Bruner’s body, but he found the strength to climb a rope 100 feet hand over hand to the repair ship Vestal.

From Washington Times • Dec. 20, 2015

As Annabeth hung in the air, descending hand over hand with the ladder swinging wildly, she thanked Chiron for all those years of training on the climbing course at Camp Half-Blood.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

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