Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

in the hands of

Idioms  
  1. In the possession of; in the custody or under the authority of. For example, In the hands of the decorator the hall was completely transformed. [Late 1200s] Also see in hand; in one's hands.


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.

The matricide trial of Orestes, portrayed as a shining moment for Athens by Aeschylus in “The Oresteia,” becomes a nihilistic farce in the hands of Euripides.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Berkshire is a highly discriminating buyer of stocks and businesses at a time when there are trillions of dollars of capital in the hands of other investors who are less demanding.

From Barron's • May 3, 2026

"We believe these terminals should be in the hands of those who really need it to make change."

From BBC • May 2, 2026

In 2020, Virginia voters amended the state constitution to put redistricting in the hands of a bipartisan commission to reduce partisan gerrymandering.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

"Liz, amor, it's in the hands of the police now. We need to let them do their job."

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi