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.

And horses have also played a helping hand in teammate Ella Lloyd's success.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Even if they take part in the new Advanced Placement Business With Personal Finance course or in a college economics class, they may still need a helping hand with the practical stuff.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

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

“The voters are stuck with no choice here. And I had a helping hand in creating that situation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Gentlemen of the All-City Jazz Band, we have an opportunity here to reach out that helping hand to one of our own.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

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