Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

turn one's hand to

 - 6 dictionary results

hand

  [hand]
Use turn one's hand to in a Sentence
–noun
1. the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.
2. the corresponding part of the forelimb in any of the higher vertebrates.
3. a terminal prehensile part, as the chela of a crustacean, or, in falconry, the foot of a falcon.
4. something resembling a hand in shape or function, as various types of pointers: the hands of a clock.
5. index (def. 8).
6. a person employed in manual labor or for general duties; worker; laborer: a factory hand; a ranch hand.
7. a person who performs or is capable of performing a specific work, skill, or action: a real hand at geometry.
8. skill; workmanship; characteristic touch: a painting that shows a master's hand.
9. a person, with reference to ability or skill: He was a poor hand at running a business.
10. a member of a ship's crew: All hands on deck!
11. Often, hands. possession or power; control, custody, or care: to have someone's fate in one's hands.
12. a position, esp. one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc.: an action to strengthen one's hand.
13. means, agency; instrumentality: death by his own hand.
14. assistance; aid; active participation or cooperation: Give me a hand with this ladder.
15. side; direction: no traffic on either hand of the road.
16. style of handwriting; penmanship: She wrote in a beautiful hand.
17. a person's signature: to set one's hand to a document.
18. a round or outburst of applause for a performer: to get a hand.
19. a promise or pledge, as of marriage: He asked for her hand in marriage.
20. a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used esp. in determining the height of horses.
21. Cards.
a. the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time.
b. the person holding the cards.
c. a single part of a game, in which all the cards dealt at one time are played.
22. Roman Law. manus (def. 2).
23. hands, Manège. skill at manipulating the reins of a horse: To ride well, one must have good hands.
24. a bunch, cluster, or bundle of various leaves, fruit, etc., as a bundle of tobacco leaves tied together or a cluster of bananas.
25. Machinery. the deviation of a thread or tooth from the axial direction of a screw or gear, as seen from one end looking away toward the other.
26. Building Trades.
a. the position of the hinges of a door, in terms of right and left, as seen from outside the building, room, closet, etc., to which the doorway leads.
b. the position of the hinges of a casement sash, in terms of right and left, from inside the window.
27. Also called handle. the fabric properties that can be sensed by touching the material, as resilience, smoothness, or body: the smooth hand of satin.
28. Archaic. a person considered as a source, as of information or of supply.
–verb (used with object)
29. to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand.
30. to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand: He handed the elderly woman across the street.
31. Nautical.
a. to take in or furl (a sail).
b. to haul on or otherwise handle.
–adjective
32. of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand.
33. made by hand.
34. carried in or worn on the hand.
35. operated by hand; manual.
—Verb phrases
36. hand down,
a. to deliver (the decision of a court): The jury handed down a verdict of guilty.
b. to transmit from one to another, esp. to bequeath to posterity: The ring had been handed down from her grandmother.
37. hand in, to submit; present for acceptance: She handed in her term paper after the deadline.
38. hand off, Football. to hand the ball to a member of one's team in the course of a play.
39. hand on, to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc.: The silver service was handed on to the eldest daughter of the family.
40. hand out, to give or distribute; pass out: People were handing out leaflets on every corner.
41. hand over,
a. to deliver into the custody of another.
b. to surrender control of: He handed over his business to his children.
—Idioms
42. at first hand, firsthand (def. 1).
43. at hand,
a. within reach; nearby; close by.
b. near in time; soon.
c. ready for use: We keep a supply of canned goods at hand.
44. at second hand, second hand (def. 3).
45. at the hand or hands of, by the action of; through the agency of: They suffered at the hands of their stepfather.
46. by hand, by using the hands, as opposed to machines; manually: lace made by hand.
47. change hands, to pass from one owner to another; change possession: The property has changed hands several times in recent years.
48. come to hand,
a. to come within one's reach or notice.
b. to be received; arrive: The spring stock came to hand last week.
49. eat out of one's hand, to be totally submissive to another; be very attentive or servile: That spoiled brat has her parents eating out of her hand.
50. force one's hand, to prompt a person to take immediate action or to reveal his or her intentions: The criticism forced the governor's hand so that he had to declare his support of the tax bill.
51. from hand to hand, from one person to another; through successive ownership or possession: The legendary jewel went from hand to hand.
52. from hand to mouth, improvidently; precariously; with nothing in reserve: They looked forward to a time when they would no longer have to live from hand to mouth.
53. give one's hand on or upon, to give one's word; seal a bargain by or as if by shaking hands: He said the goods would be delivered within a month and gave them his hand on it.
54. hand and foot,
a. so as to hinder movement: They tied him hand and foot.
b. slavishly and continually: Cinderella had to wait on her stepsisters hand and foot.
55. hand and glove, very intimately associated: Several high-ranking diplomats were found to be hand and glove with enemy agents. Also, hand in glove.
56. hand in hand,
a. with one's hand enclasped in that of another person.
b. closely associated; concurrently; conjointly: Doctors and nurses work hand in hand to save lives.
57. hand in one's checks, Chiefly British. cash (def. 7).
58. hand it to, Informal. to give just credit to; pay respect to: You have to hand it to her for getting the work out.
59. hand over fist, speedily; increasingly: He owns a chain of restaurants and makes money hand over fist.
60. hands down,
a. effortlessly; easily: He won the championship hands down.
b. indisputably; incontestably: It was hands down the best race I've ever seen.
61. hands off! don't touch, strike, or interfere! keep away from!: Hands off my stereo!
62. hands up! hold your hands above your head! give up!
63. hand to hand, in direct combat; at close quarters: The troops fought hand to hand.
64. have a hand in, to have a share in; participate in: It is impossible that she could have had a hand in this notorious crime.
65. have one's hands full, to have a large or excessive amount of work to handle; be constantly busy: The personnel department has its hands full trying to process the growing number of applications.
66. hold hands, to join hands with another person as a token of affection: They have been seen holding hands in public.
67. in hand,
a. under control: He kept the situation well in hand.
b. in one's possession: cash in hand.
c. in the process of consideration or settlement: regarding the matter in hand.
68. join hands, to unite in a common cause; combine: The democracies must join hands in order to survive.
69. keep one's hand in, to continue to practice: He turned the business over to his sons, but he keeps his hand in it. I just play enough golf to keep my hand in.
70. lay one's hands on,
a. to obtain; acquire: I wish I could lay my hands on a good used piano.
b. to seize, esp. in order to punish: He wanted to lay his hands on the person who had backed into his car.
c. to impose the hands in a ceremonial fashion, as in ordination: The bishop laid hands on the candidates.
71. lend or give a hand, to lend assistance; help out: Lend a hand and we'll finish the job in no time.
72. lift a hand, to exert any effort: She wouldn't lift a hand to help anyone. Also, lift a finger.
73. off one's hands,
a. out of one's charge or care: Now, with their children grown and off their hands, they will be free to travel.
b. successfully completed; finished: The lawyer planned a vacation as soon as the case was off his hands.
74. on all hands,
a. by everyone; universally: It was decided on all hands to take an excursion.
b. on every side; all around: piercing glances on all hands.
Also, on every hand.
75. on hand,
a. in one's possession; at one's disposal: cash on hand.
b. about to occur; imminent: A change of government may be on hand.
c. present: There were not enough members on hand to constitute a quorum.
76. on the other hand, from another side or aspect; conversely: It was an unfortunate experience, but, on the other hand, one can learn from one's mistakes.
77. on or upon one's hands, under one's care or management; as one's responsibility: He was left with a large surplus on his hands.
78. out of hand,
a. beyond control: to let one's temper get out of hand.
b. without delay; at once: The crisis obliged him to act out of hand.
c. no longer in process; finished: The case has been out of hand for some time.
d. without consideration or deliberation: to reject a proposal out of hand.
79. shake hands, to clasp another's hand in greeting, congratulation, or agreement: They shook hands on the proposed partnership.
80. show one's hand, to disclose or display one's true intentions or motives: The impending revolution forced him to show his hand.
81. sit on one's hands,
a. to be unenthusiastic or unappreciative; fail to applaud: It was a lively show, but the audience sat on its hands.
b. to take no action; be passive or hesitant: While he was being beaten, the others sat on their hands.
82. take a hand in, to take part in; participate in: If the strike continues, the government will have to take a hand in the negotiations.
83. take in hand,
a. to undertake responsibility for; assume charge: When both parents died, an uncle took the youngster in hand.
b. to deal with; treat of: We'll take the matter in hand at the next meeting.
84. throw up one's hands, to admit one's inadequacy, exasperation, or failure; despair: When the general received reports of an enemy build-up, he threw up his hands.
85. tie one's hands, to render one powerless to act; thwart: The provisions of the will tied his hands. Also, have one's hands tied.
86. tip one's hand, to reveal one's plans or intentions before the propitious time.
87. to hand,
a. within reach; accessible or nearby.
b. into one's possession: A search of the attic brought some valuable antiques to hand.
88. try one's hand (at), to test one's skill or aptitude for: After becoming a successful painter, he decided to try his hand at sculpture.
89. turn or put one's hand to, to set to work at; busy oneself with: He turned his hand successfully to gardening.
90. wash one's hands of, to disclaim any further responsibility for; renounce interest in or support of: I washed my hands of the entire affair.
91. with a heavy hand,
a. with severity; oppressively: The law will punish offenders with a heavy hand.
b. in a clumsy manner; awkwardly; gracelessly: The play was directed with a heavy hand.
92. with a high hand, in an arrogant or dictatorial manner; arbitrarily: He ran the organization with a high hand.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE; c. D, G Hand, ON hǫnd, Goth handus

Related forms:
handlike, adjective

Synonyms:
16. script, calligraphy, longhand.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To turn one's hand to
Slang Dictionary
hand (so sth)

  1. tv.
    to tell someone something; to tell someone nonsense. : She handed me a line about being a famous author.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

hand 
O.E. hond, from P.Gmc. *khanduz (cf. O.S., O.Fris., Du., Ger. hand, O.N. hönd, Goth. handus). The original O.E. plural handa was superseded in M.E. by handen, later hands. Meaning "person who does something with his hands" is from 1590, hence "hired workman" (1655) and "sailor in a ship's crew" (1669). Clock and watch sense is from 1575. Meaning "round of applause" is from 1838. The linear measure of 4 inches (originally 3) is from 1561, now used only in giving the height of horses. The meaning "playing cards held in one player's hand" is from 1630; that of "a round at a card game" is from 1622. The verb is from 1642. First hand, second hand, etc. (1439) are from the notion of something being passed down from hand to hand. Out of hand (1597) is opposite of in hand "under control" (c.1200). Hand over fist (1825) is suggestive of sailors and fishermen hauling in nets. Hands-on (adj.) is first recorded 1969; hands-off (adj.) is from 1902. Hand-jive is from 1958. Hand job is 1940s; hand-me-down as a modifier is first recorded 1874. To win something hands down (1867) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory. To hand it to (someone) "acknowledge someone's ability" is slang from c.1906. Handy is from c.1310; handful was in O.E. Phrase on the one hand ... on the other hand is recorded from 1638, a fig. use of the physical sense of hand in reference to position on one side or the other side of the body (as in the lefthand side), which goes back to O.E. Hands up! as a command from a policeman, robber, etc., is from 1873. Hand-to-mouth is from 1509.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hand
Pronunciation: 'hand
Function: noun
often attributive 1 a (1) : the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (asin humans) as a grasping organ (2) : the forelimb segment (as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of itsform or functional specialization b : a part serving the function of or resembling a hand; especially : the hind foot of an ape c : somethingresembling a hand; especially : an indicator or pointer on a dial
2 : a unit of measure equal to 4 inches or 10.2 centimeters used especially for the height ofhorses
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

hand (hānd)
n.

  1. The terminal part of the human arm located below the forearm, used for grasping and holding and consisting of the wrist, palm, four fingers, and an opposable thumb.

  2. A homologous or similar part in other animals.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

turn one's hand to

Also, put one's hand to. Apply oneself to, begin working at, as in Next she turned her hand to starting her dissertation, or He was so lazy he wouldn't put his hand to anything. [c. 1700]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see turn one's hand to on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way