Synonyms

helping hand

American

noun

aid; assistance.

to give the destitute a helping hand.

helping hand British

noun

assistance

many people lent a helping hand in making arrangements for the party

"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

helping hand Idioms

see under lend a hand.

Etymology

Origin of helping hand

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

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.

Parkkonen, who appears on stage as enigmatic and brooding while lamenting his unanswered love next to a flaming confessional, hoped the song will serve as "a helping hand".

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Tokyo used its financial muscle to offer a helping hand to Asian neighbors, especially in Southeast Asia, making available roughly $10 billion in emergency loans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

What’s more, lower interest rates and new tax cuts were expected to lend a helping hand.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

Dishwashers need a helping hand to reach their peak performance.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

“Of course! We women must give each other a helping hand when it comes to business.”

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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