hand-to-hand

[ hand-tuh-hand ]

/ ˈhænd təˈhænd /

adjective

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

Nearby words

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

Origin of hand-to-hand

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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

hand-to-hand

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of hand-to-hand

Examples from the Web for hand-to-hand

British Dictionary definitions for hand-to-hand

hand-to-hand

adjective, adverb