hand-to-hand

[ hand-tuh-hand ]

/ ˈhænd təˈhænd /

adjective

close to one's adversary; at close quarters: hand-to-hand combat.

QUIZZES

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of hand-to-hand

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Words nearby hand-to-hand

hand-piece, hand-ride, hand-running, hand-schüller-christian disease, hand-tailor, hand-to-hand, hand-to-mouth, hand-tool, hand-walk, hand-wash, hand-wringing

Example sentences from the Web for hand-to-hand

Hand-to-hand in an apartment with an Edith Piaf song in the background.
‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Premiere Wows (and Puzzles) Us|Allen Barra, Margaret Barra|September 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Once, Usama bin Zaid overcame an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat.
Prophet Muhammad’s Rules of War|Qasim Rashid|November 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Guys, it distinctly says “tickle me” Elmo, not “hand-to-hand combat over me” Elmo.
Eight Biggest Elmo Scandals: Kevin Clash, Katy Perry & More (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|November 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But his sexual deviance, sporadic drug addiction, and overreliance on hand-to-hand combat may not hold up to scrutiny.
10 Fictional Replacements for CIA Chief David Petraeus|Ben Teitelbaum, Laura Colarusso|November 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST

In the final days of the race, Romney beseeched supporters to engage in a kind of hand-to-hand combat.
Team Romney Plays the Electoral Numbers in Frenzied Final Stretch|David Freedlander|November 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In the meanwhile a repulsive scene was going on: a hand-to-hand struggle, invectives and screams.
Life of Elie Metchnikoff, 1845-1916|Olga Metchnikoff
She'd had some hand-to-hand tussle meanwhile, Mrs. Pedders had; but she'd stuck it out noble.
Shorty McCabe on the Job|Sewell Ford
Soon there were enough stalwart savages there easily to overpower, in a hand-to-hand fight, the feeble garrison of but six men.
Christopher Carson|John S. C. Abbott
More than once he was forced into a hand-to-hand struggle to keep his companion from his purpose.
The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's|Talbot Baines Reed
But they was too many, and it soon come to hand-to-hand fightin'.
Indian and Scout|F. S. Brereton

British Dictionary definitions for hand-to-hand

hand-to-hand

adjective, adverb

at close quartersthey fought hand-to-hand

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