Enhance Your English: 30 Common Collocations with Hand

Collocations are a vital part of mastering any language, and English is no exception. They are word combinations that native speakers use naturally, and understanding them can significantly improve your fluency and comprehension. In this blog post, we will explore 30 common collocations with hand.

Enhance Your English 👋 30 Common Collocations with Hand

One of the most versatile words in English is “hand.” It appears in countless collocations, each carrying a specific meaning that can change depending on the context.

Each collocation is accompanied by its definition, phonetic transcription, and two example sentences to help you grasp its usage. Whether you’re a language learner aiming to enhance your English or a teacher seeking to enrich your lessons, these collocations will be a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

So, let’s dive in and get a “hand” on these expressions!

#1. 🤝 Give a Hand

Definition: To help someone with something.

Phonetic Transcription: /ɡɪv ə hænd/

Examples:

• Could you give me a hand with these boxes?
• She always gives a hand to her neighbors when they need it.

#2. ✋ Raise a Hand

Definition: To lift one’s hand to ask a question or volunteer.

Phonetic Transcription: /reɪz ə hænd/

Examples:

• If you have a question, please raise your hand.
• No one raised a hand to volunteer for the project.

#3. 📝 Hand in

Definition: To submit something, usually an assignment or document.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ɪn/

Examples:

• Please hand in your homework by Friday.
• I handed in my resignation letter yesterday.

#4. ✍️ Handwriting

Definition: The style or manner of writing by hand.

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈhændˌraɪtɪŋ/

Examples:

• His handwriting is difficult to read.
• She has beautiful handwriting that resembles calligraphy.

#5. 👏 Applaud with Both Hands

Definition: To show strong approval by clapping enthusiastically.

Phonetic Transcription: /əˈplɔd wɪð boʊθ hændz/

Examples:

• The audience applauded with both hands after the performance.
• Everyone in the room applauded with both hands when the speech ended.

#6. 🙌 Hand in Hand

Definition: Together; in close association.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ɪn hænd/

Examples:

• The couple walked hand in hand along the beach.
• Progress and innovation often go hand in hand.

#7. 🔄 On the Other Hand

Definition: Used to introduce a contrasting point of view.

Phonetic Transcription: /ɔn ði ˈʌðər hænd/

Examples:

• He is very talented. On the other hand, he can be quite lazy.
• The job is challenging. On the other hand, it offers great benefits.

#8. ✋ Lend a Hand

Definition: To offer help to someone.

Phonetic Transcription: /lɛnd ə hænd/

Examples:

• Could you lend a hand with the decorations?
• She was quick to lend a hand when I was in need.

#9. 🖐️ Hand Over

Definition: To give or pass something to someone else.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ˈoʊvər/

Examples:

• Please hand over the documents before the meeting.
• He handed over the keys to his new apartment.

#10. 🎨 Firsthand

Definition: Directly experienced or observed.

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈfɜrstˌhænd/

Examples:

• I heard the news firsthand from a witness.
• She has firsthand knowledge of the situation.

#11. 🖋️ Secondhand

Definition: Not directly known or experienced; heard from another source.

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈsɛkəndˌhænd/

Examples:

• I bought the car secondhand.
• His information is secondhand and might not be accurate.

#12. 👋 Hand Out

Definition: To distribute something to a group of people.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd aʊt/

Examples:

• The teacher handed out the test papers.
• Volunteers handed out flyers at the event.

#13. ✨ Hand Down

Definition: To pass something from one generation to another.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd daʊn/

Examples:

• This watch was handed down from my grandfather.
• Traditions are often handed down through families.

#14. 🔄 Change Hands

Definition: To pass from one owner to another.

Phonetic Transcription: /tʃeɪndʒ hændz/

Examples:

• The property changed hands several times.
• This business has changed hands recently.

#15. 🧼 Wash Your Hands Of

Definition: To end one’s association with someone or something.

Phonetic Transcription: /wɑʃ jʊər hændz ʌv/

Examples:

• I’ve washed my hands of that situation.
• He decided to wash his hands of the project.

#16. ✋ Keep Your Hands Off

Definition: To avoid touching or interfering with something.

Phonetic Transcription: /kip jʊər hændz ɔf/

Examples:

• Keep your hands off my things!
• He was told to keep his hands off the equipment.

#17. 👏 In Safe Hands

Definition: To be in the care of someone who is capable and reliable.

Phonetic Transcription: /ɪn seɪf hændz/

Examples:

• Don’t worry, your car is in safe hands.
• The company is in safe hands with the new CEO.

#18. 🤲 Hand in Your Resignation

Definition: To formally submit one’s resignation.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ɪn jʊər ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/

Examples:

• She decided to hand in her resignation.
• After much thought, he handed in his resignation.

#19. 🤝 Shake Hands

Definition: To clasp someone’s hand as a greeting or sign of agreement.

Phonetic Transcription: /ʃeɪk hændz/

Examples:

• They shook hands after agreeing on the deal.
• It’s polite to shake hands when meeting someone new.

#20. ✋ Hands Up

Definition: A call to raise one’s hands, often in surrender or as a signal.

Phonetic Transcription: /hændz ʌp/

Examples:

• Hands up if you know the answer.
• The robbers shouted, “Hands up!”

#21. 🕒 Hands of Time

Definition: Refers to the passage of time.

Phonetic Transcription: /hændz ʌv taɪm/

**Examples:

• You can’t turn back the hands of time.
• The hands of time have not been kind to this old building.

#22. ✋ Hands Down

Definition: Without question; definitely.

Phonetic Transcription: /hændz daʊn/

Examples:

• She is hands down the best candidate for the job.
• That was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had.

#23. 🏆 Win Hands Down

Definition: To win easily, without much effort.

Phonetic Transcription: /wɪn hændz daʊn/

Examples:

• They won the match hands down.
• She won the competition hands down.

#24. 👋 Hands Off

Definition: Used to tell someone not to touch or interfere with something.

Phonetic Transcription: /hændz ɔf/

Examples:

• Hands off my cake!
• The government has a hands-off approach to the economy.

#25. ✋ Hands-On

Definition: Involving active participation.

Phonetic Transcription: /hændz ɔn/

Examples:

• The workshop offers hands-on training.
• She prefers a hands-on approach to learning.

#26. 🧳 Hand Luggage

Definition: A small bag that you can carry onto an airplane.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/

Examples:

• Remember to pack your hand luggage carefully.
• She brought only hand luggage for the trip.

#27. ✍️ Hand-Written

Definition: Written by hand, not typed.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ˈrɪtən/

Examples:

• She sent me a hand-written letter.
• His hand-written notes are always neat and organized.

#28. 🤲 Hand to Mouth

Definition: Living with just enough money to meet immediate needs.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd tə maʊθ/

Examples:

• They are living hand to mouth, with no savings for emergencies.
• After losing his job, he found himself living hand to mouth.

#29. ✋ Hand Over Fist

Definition: Rapidly and in large amounts (often used with earning money).

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd ˈoʊvər fɪst/

Examples:

• The company is making money hand over fist.
• They were losing money hand over fist before the new management took over.

#30. 🖐️ Hand-Held

Definition: Something small enough to be held in your hand, usually referring to devices.

Phonetic Transcription: /hænd hɛld/

Examples:

• She bought a new hand-held video game console.
• The hand-held scanner made the checkout process faster.

Collocations With HAND Table

Most Common Collocations With HAND Worksheet

Wrapping Up

Collocations with the word “hand” are incredibly common in everyday English, each with its own specific meaning and usage. From expressions like “give a hand” to “hand over fist,” these phrases can add nuance and clarity to your speech and writing.

By familiarizing yourself with these collocations, you’ll be better equipped to understand and participate in conversations, whether casual or formal.

Adding these phrases to your vocabulary is a step towards fluency, making your English sound more natural and native-like. So, take these 30 collocations and practice them in your daily conversations or writing. The more you use them, the more comfortable you’ll become.

Remember, language learning is a gradual process, but with dedication and consistent practice, you’ll find yourself becoming more confident and proficient in no time.

Happy learning! 😊

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