have a hand in
Idioms-
Also, take a hand in . Participate, be involved, as in I'd like to have a hand in planning the publicity . [Late 1500s]
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. Be actively engaged or remain in practice doing something. For example, He works as stage manager, director, understudy—he has a hand in every aspect , or Write a few pages every day, just to keep your hand in . [Mid-1700s]
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.
"To be the nerd behind the scenes, to help the heroes on this Earth saving us from the bad things happening, it's really fulfilling to be able to have a hand in that," Campbell said.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
He said the group will look for candidates who support export controls to China and embrace the idea that governments “at all levels” should have a hand in AI regulation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
Even so, placing a supposedly superior world within Peacemaker’s reach, one he didn’t have a hand in improving, can’t end well.
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2025
As someone who is Latino, do you feel like your upbringing helped shape your career or have a hand in the roles that you’ve chosen?
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2025
Gawaine, it is true, was decent enough to refuse to have a hand in plots against Lancelot’s life, and Gaheris was dull.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
