Meaning: at hand

adj.
close in space; within reachclose in time; about to occur

hand Idiom, Proverb

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

having one is better than seeing many When searching for a better job, remember A bird in the hand... .

a firm hand

a person who will discipline people The students in Grade 8 need a teacher with a firm hand.

a free hand

complete authority, freedom to control The President gave Ms. Drake a free hand in choosing the colors.

a handful

a child who is difficult to manage Jason is not easy to manage. He is a real handful for his mother.

a handout

free food or money, freeload I'm not asking for a handout. I'll pay you back when I find work.

a helping hand

help with a job or task, lend a hand May was always ready with a helping hand.

a hot hand

lucky in card games or at gambling Walter's got a hot hand tonight. He's won four games of poker.

an old hand at

a person with a lot of practice or experience Tom's an old hand at cribbage. He's played since he was a boy.

at hand

easy to reach, nearby I couldn't find any tools near at hand so I was unable to fix the stove.

at the hands of

while competing against, when fighting It was at the hands of his former student that he was defeated.

bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

one shouldn

bite the hand that feeds one

turn against or hurt a helper or supporter, repay kindness with wrong My niece is biting the hand that feeds her if she keeps abusing the help that her parents are giving her.

bite the hand that feeds you

be unkind to the one who cares for you or pays you If you criticize your employer, you bite the hand that feeds you.

can't put my hands on it

cannot remember exactly where it is Your book is in my office, but I can't put my hands on it now.

catch (someone) red-handed

catch someone in the middle of doing something wrong The woman was caught red-handed at the store trying to steal some cosmetics.

caught red-handed

caught with evidence, caught in the act The smuggler was caught redhanded with a kilo of cocain.

cement hands

awkward hands, butter fingers "Joey can't type; he's got cement hands."

change hands

change owners, be sold or traded That condo changed hands three times in one year - three owners!

crawl on my hands and knees over broken glass just

do anything to be closer to her, worship the ground she walks on I'm so in love I'd crawl on my hands and knees over miles of broken glass to see her photo.

don't hand me that

(See don't give me that)

eat out of the palm of your hand

do whatever you ask, obey you, win the hearts If you tell the children a story, you'll have them eating out of the palm of your hand.

firm hand

(See a firm hand)

first hand

being there to see or hear it, in person I want to see the Pantheon first hand. I want to see its dome.

firsthand

directly I learned the news from him firsthand.

fly off the handle

become angry He really flew off the handle when he saw the bill for the meal.

force one's hand

make someone do something or tell what one will do sooner than planned We decided to force the hand of the opposing side at the bargaining sessions as we wanted to finish the negotiations quickly.

free hand

great freedom to do something We had a free hand in designing the new sport

from hand to hand

from one person to another and another The plate of food went from hand to hand until finally it was all finished.

from hand to mouth

poor, spending every cent on necessities They lived from hand to mouth, never enjoying luxury or travel.

get a handle on

understand, find out about We have to get a handle on the parking problem - get the facts.

get out of hand

" become out of control; become badly managed. "

give me a hand

help me, lend a hand Please give me a hand with this math problem. I can't solve it.

give someone a hand

help someone with something I gave my friend a hand moving into his new apartment.

give them a hand

clap your hands, applaud Let's give them a hand, folks. They sang very well.

glad hand

a friendly handshake, a warm greeting The politician spent the morning glad handing the people at the shopping center.

go to hell in a handbasket

go to hell feeling peaceful or unconcerned, ignorance is bliss We don't get involved in issues. We're wasting our lives and going to hell in a handbasket!

good hands

"skilful hands; ability to pass, catch, shoot etc." He's not a fast runner, but he's got good hands.

got my hands full

am very busy, plate is full I'd like to help with your project but I've got my hands full.

ham hands

large hands, huge hands When the coach saw my big hands he called me Ham Hands.

hand down

arrange to give something to someone after your death My grandmother handed down her silver jewellery to my mother.

hand in

give to the teacher or manager, turn in If we hand in an essay before it's due, teacher gives us a 5% bonus.

hand in hand

related, together Math and science go hand in hand. They're related subjects.

hand it to (someone)

give credit or praise to someone You have to hand it to him - he worked hard and was very successful with his business.

hand-me-down

something given away after another person doesn

hand out

give to the class or audience, pass around Cory, please hand out the song books - one to each member.

hand over

give them to me, fork over Hand over the keys to the safe - give them to me now!

hand over fist

rapidly His new company is making money hand over fist.

hand something to someone on a silver platter

give a person something that has not been earned He was handed a great job on a silver platter and never had to make any effort at all.

hand to mouth

(See from hand to mouth)

hand to someone on a silver platter

give a person something that has not been earned His education was handed to him on a silver platter and now he is very spoiled and selfish.