handle

[ han-dl ]

/ ˈhæn dl /

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See synonyms for: handle / handled / handles / handling on Thesaurus.com

noun

a part of a thing made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand.

that which may be held, seized, grasped, or taken advantage of in effecting a purpose: The clue was a handle for solving the mystery.

Slang.

a person's name, especially the given name.
a person's alias, nickname, or code name.
a username, as on a social media website: What's your Twitter handle?
a name or term by which something is known, described, or explained.

the total amount wagered on an event, series of events, or for an entire season or seasons, as at a gambling casino or in horse racing: The track handle for the day was over a million dollars.

the total amount of money taken in by a business concern on one transaction, sale, event, or series of transactions, or during a specific period, especially by a theater, nightclub, sports arena, resort hotel, or the like.

hand (def. 27).

Informal. a way of getting ahead or gaining an advantage: The manufacturer regards the new appliance as its handle on the Christmas market.

verb (used with object), han·dled, han·dling.

to touch, pick up, carry, or feel with the hand or hands; use the hands on; take hold of.

to manage, deal with, or be responsible for: My wife handles the household accounts. This computer handles all our billing.

to use or employ, especially in a particular manner; manipulate: to handle color expertly in painting.

to manage, direct, train, or control: to handle troops.

to deal with (a subject, theme, argument, etc.): The poem handled the problem of instinct versus intellect.

to deal with or treat in a particular way: to handle a person with tact.

to deal or trade in: to handle dry goods.

verb (used without object), han·dled, han·dling.

to behave or perform in a particular way when handled, directed, managed, etc.: The troops handled well. The jet was handling poorly.

OTHER WORDS FOR handle

14 sell, vend, carry, market; hawk, peddle.

See synonyms for handle on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about handle

fly off the handle, Informal. to become very agitated or angry, especially without warning or adequate reason: I can't imagine why he flew off the handle like that.

get / have a handle on, to acquire an understanding or knowledge of: Can you get a handle on what your new boss expects?

Origin of handle

before 900; (noun) Middle English handel, Old English hand(e)le, derivative of hand; (verb) Middle English handelen, Old English handlian (cognate with German handlen, Old Norse hǫndla to seize), derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM handle

han·dle·a·ble, adjectivehan·dle·a·bil·i·ty, nounhan·dle·less, adjectiveo·ver·han·dle, verb (used with object), o·ver·han·dled, o·ver·han·dling.

pre·han·dle, verb (used with object), pre·han·dled, pre·han·dling.re·han·dle, verb (used with object), re·han·dled, re·han·dling.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use handle in a sentence

Or maybe it was from the handles of a grocery store shopping cart.
Jeopardy! Champion Julia Collins’s Brain Feels Like Mush|Sujay Kumar|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fake Twitter handles started appearing for members of its fake cast.
There Are More 'Too Many Cooks' Where That First Fever Dream Came From|Kevin Fallon|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A second area that Republican challengers could have raised: how the Senate handles the reporting of personal finances.
A Conservative Explains Why The GOP Could Lose|Bill Whalen|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stewart handles the Daily Show mention well, having Jones himself reshoot the segment with Bernal as Bahari.
'Rosewater' Review: Jon Stewart's Clumsy but Earnest Directorial Debut|Alex Suskind|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I just found it depressingly tone deaf for a show that typically handles these sensitive issues so delicately.
‘Orange Is the New Black’: Inside the Wild S2 Finale and What’s Next for Season 3|Kevin Fallon, Marlow Stern|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cincinnatus will not back to his plow, or, at the best, stands sullenly between his plow-handles arguing for a higher wage.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
A piece of iron sticking out from the cross-head carried the plug-rod for working the gear-handles.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Two valves turned the steam on and off from under the piston, with the ordinary gear and handles.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The knives and forks had white and black horn handles, with notched blades, and broken prongs.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
Old Doc Kraus handles the cases for the whole county when they come up.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for handle

handle

/ (ˈhændəl) /

noun

the part of a utensil, drawer, etc, designed to be held in order to move, use, or pick up the object

NZ a glass beer mug with a handle

slang a person's name or title

a CB radio slang name for call sign

an opportunity, reason, or excuse for doing somethinghis background served as a handle for their mockery

the quality, as of textiles, perceived by touching or feeling

the total amount of a bet on a horse race or similar event

fly off the handle informal to become suddenly extremely angry

verb (mainly tr)

to pick up and hold, move, or touch with the hands

to operate or employ using the handsthe boy handled the reins well

to have power or control overmy wife handles my investments

to manage successfullya secretary must be able to handle clients

to discuss (a theme, subject, etc)

to deal with or treat in a specified wayI was handled with great tact

to trade or deal in (specified merchandise)

(intr) to react or respond in a specified way to operation or controlthe car handles well on bends

Derived forms of handle

handleable, adjectivehandled, adjectivehandleless, adjective

Word Origin for handle

Old English; related to Old Saxon handlon (vb), Old High German hantilla towel

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with handle

handle

In addition to the idioms beginning with handle

handle to one's name
handle with gloves

also see:

fly off the handle
get a fix (handle) on

handle

OTHER WORDS FOR handle

Idioms about handle

Origin of handle

OTHER WORDS FROM handle

Words related to handle

How to use handle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for handle

Derived forms of handle

Word Origin for handle

Other Idioms and Phrases with handle