hands

/ (hændz) /

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See synonyms for hands on Thesaurus.com

pl n

power or keepingyour welfare is in his hands

Also called: handling soccer the infringement of touching the ball with any part of the hand or arm

change hands to pass from the possession of one person or group to another

clean hands freedom from guilt

hands down without effort; easily

hands off do not touch or interfere

hands up! raise the hands above the level of the shoulders, an order usually given by an armed robber to a victim, etc

have one's hands full

to be completely occupied
to be beset with problems

have one's hands tied to be wholly unable to act

in good hands in protective care

join hands See join (def. 12)

lay hands on or lay hands upon

to seize or get possession of
to beat up; assault
to findI just can't lay my hands on it anywhere
Christianity to confirm or ordain by the imposition of hands

off one's hands for which one is no longer responsible

on one's hands

for which one is responsibleI've got too much on my hands to help
to sparetime on my hands

out of one's hands no longer one's responsibility

throw up one's hands to give up in despair

wash one's hands of to have nothing more to do with

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby hands

handrail, hand-ride, handroll, handrub, hand-running, hands, hands are tied, handsaw, hand's-breadth, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease, hand screw

British Dictionary definitions for hands (2 of 2)

Hands

/ (hænz) /

noun

Terence David, known as Terry. born 1941, British theatre director: chief executive and artistic director (1986–91) of the Royal Shakespeare Company

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

How to use hands in a sentence

“We all shook hands and my client told me to leave,” he said.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My body used for his hard pleasure; a stone god gripping me in his hands.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An ace comedic turn that, in lesser hands, would come off as one-note.
Oscars 2015: The Daily Beast’s Picks, From Scarlett Johansson to ‘Boyhood’|Marlow Stern|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Inevitably, the old visceral “hands-on” flying skills, no longer much employed by pilots, have atrophied like an unused limb.
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Hands-down the best music video in years—and one of the best ever.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a suffocating gasp, she fell back into the chair on which she sat, and covered her face with her hands.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
She sat straight up in bed, and jerked her hands to her head, and screamed long and terribly.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
He reached forward and took her hands, and if Mrs. Vivian had come in she would have seen him kneeling at her daughter's feet.
Confidence|Henry James
He burst into a loud laugh, clapped his hands, and danced before the delighted babe.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

hands

Words nearby hands

British Dictionary definitions for hands (2 of 2)

Words related to hands

How to use hands in a sentence