hat in hand

Idioms

Also, cap in hand. In a humble manner. For example, They went to her, hat in hand, asking for a change of assignment. This expression alludes to removing one's headgear as a sign of respect and has survived the era of doffing one's hat. [c. 1700]

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.

Unlike federal agencies, the Fed doesn’t have to go to Congress hat in hand to cover operating losses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

But what caused Milei to go hat in hand to the U.S. in the first place?

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2025

Brad Karp, the head of the firm, went, hat in hand, to the Oval Office and lit a match to the firm’s reputation.

From Slate • Mar. 21, 2025

“It wasn’t easy to kind of come hat in hand, so to speak, and say ‘This is something I need help with.’

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024

Their first item of business involved Arthur Devlin, hat in hand, negotiating new working codes and payment arrangements for the mine workers in exchange for access to the vein running under the town’s land.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023