hat in hand

1. 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

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

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

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“Look where we are now, where he comes hat in hand to Mar-a-Lago.”

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

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Before the holidays, President Zelensky came to Washington, hat in hand, hoping to secure the passage of a bill that would send $60 billion of aid his way, a renewal of full support.

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