in hand

Idioms  

1. Accessible at the present time, as in The company has very little cash in hand . [Late 1300s]

2. Under one's control or authority, as in The police had the situation well in hand . [Early 1600s]

3. In process, being settled, as in He was willing to give full attention to the matter in hand . [Late 1300s] Also see in one's hands .

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Example Sentences

They mostly talked to the people of the North End, listened to stories, and took care of the land with assorted donated trash pickers in hand.

From Literature

Kids are running up and down the wet sand chasing geese, while the younger ones seat themselves in the sand, buckets and shovels in hand.

From Literature

The girl gave a happy yelp, not unlike a fox kit, and they carried on down the road, hand in hand, swinging their filthy prize and sack of rubbish all the way.

From Literature

Excessive power and instability go hand in hand.

From The Wall Street Journal

With three games to play, they sit in second place above rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, while also having two games in hand.

From BBC

Related Words

• purchased