Сегодня мы берем изучение английских идиом в свои руки и помогаем вам запомнить 15 «ручных» идиом английского языка.
Вам точно удастся приручить необычные словосочетания и выражения со словом «hand», как только вы ознакомитесь с их переводом и изучите примеры их использования.
- To try your hand at smth – попробовать свои силы в чем-то, впервые заняться чем-то
Если вам нужно испробовать себя в чем-то, впервые окунуться в какой-то опыт, почувствовать, насколько вы справляетесь с чем-то, вы, прежде всего, делаете что-то «в тестовом режиме». Это позволяет вам понять, например, попробовать себя в приготовлении японских блюд/try your hand at Japanese cooking или понять, нравится ли вам заниматься йогой/try your hand at yoga.
- To get/take the upper hand – получить превосходство, господствовать
Эта идиома появилась на детских спортивных площадках в южных штатах. Капитаны американских подростковых бейсбольных команд так определяли, кто первым будет набирать игроков в свою команду: один хватал бейсбольную биту на нижний конец, другой ставил руку прямо над рукой первого, и так продолжалось до конца биты. Тот, чья рука оказывалась сверху, первым выбирал лучших игроков. По другой версии, идиома появилась из-за психологических особенностей отношений в паре: тот, чья рука оказывается «сверху», когда пара держится за руки, и является «ведущим» в отношениях.
- To get out of hand – выйти из-под контроля, отбиться от рук, выйти из подчинения, распуститься
Рука – очень древний символ власти, контроля и могущества, именно поэтому, когда что-то «вырывается из рук», значит, оно становится хаотичным, неудержимым и неконтролируемым. Так, можно потерять контроль над вредной привычкой, например, пристрастием к алкоголю/your drinking habit got out of hand.
- To change hands – переходить из рук в руки, менять владельцев
Эта идиома рассматривает ситуацию постоянной смены владельцев с точки зрения объекта, который постоянно оказывается в руках нового хозяина. Например, у вашей квартиры могло быть несколько хозяев, прежде чем ее купили вы/your flat had changed hands several times before you bought it.
- To have one’s hands full – хлопот полон рот, накопилось много работы
Вы когда-нибудь оказывались в ситуации, когда приходится нести так много вещей, что буквально «рук не хватает»? Эта идиома в переносном значении интерпретирует эту ситуацию, описывая состояние, когда вы едва справляетесь с имеющимися задачами. Это может быть хорошей причиной для отказа помочь кому-то, ведь можно просто сказать: «Извини, но у меня и так хлопот полон рот»/«Sorry, but my hands are full at the moment».
- To lend a hand/to give a (helping) hand – протянуть руку помощи
Помните, как Роберт Дауни-мл. подарил мальчику бионический протез в стиле «Железного Человека»? Эта история может служить буквальной иллюстрацией идиомы «to give a helping hand». Вы предлагаете свою помощь бескорыстно, не требуя ничего взамен и искренне желая помочь, например, присмотрев за болеющей мамой друга/to give your friend a helping hand tending his ailing mother.
- To wash one’s hands of smth – умывать руки, снять с себя ответственность за что-то, уклониться от участия в чем-то
Идиома об омовении рук вошла в английский и русский языки из-за библейского эпизода из Евангелия от Матфея. Прокуратор Понтий Пилат во время суда над Христом совершил традиционное для иудеев ритуальное омовение рук, чтобы продемонстрировать, что невиновен в совершаемом убийстве и не несет за него ответственности. В наши дни, если вам не нравится какой-то план или сомнительная задумка, которая точно плохо закончится, можно просто сказать: «Я в этом не участвую!»/«I wash my hands!»
- To know smth like the back of one’s hand – знать что-то как свои пять пальцев
Почему англичане, говоря о чем-то знакомом до мельчайших деталей, упоминают именно тыльную сторону ладони? Почему не сгиб локтя или не свои пять пальцев, как сказали бы мы? Посмотрите на себя прямо сейчас. Каждый раз, когда вы работаете на компьютере, пишете, играете на фортепьяно или месите тесто, именно тыльная сторона руки всегда у вас перед глазами. Именно поэтому можно сказать, например, что знаете дорогу от работы до дома как свои пять пальцев/I know the way home like the back of my hand.
- Hands down – легко, без усилий; несомненно, без вопросов, без возражений
Эта идиома появилась в мире лошадиных скачек. Жокей на протяжении всего забега должен был туго натягивать поводья, чтобы подстегнуть лошадь скакать быстрее. Тот же, кому удавалось вырваться вперед и увеличить разрыв от преследователей, мог немного ослабить поводья и выиграть забег, «опустив руки». Сегодня эта идиома используется в переносном смысле, когда говорится о легкой победе: This candidate will hands down win the second round of elections/Этот кандидат с легкостью одержит победу во втором этапе выборов.
- To give smb a free hand – дать полную свободу действий
Синонимом этой идиомы является идиома «to give smb free rein», которая дословно означает «отпустить поводья», то есть здесь мы вновь встречаем фразу из сферы скачек. Например, вы можете полностью положиться на вкус дизайнера, когда составляете букет невесты, иными словами, give the florist a free hand in compiling the bridal bouquet.
- A hand-me-down – одежда, которую младшие дети донашивают за старшими
Не только в небогатых семьях принято, что младшим детям «по наследству» достается одежда старших братьев и сестер. Даже в семье Джона Дэвисона Рокфеллера не считалось разумным излишне тратиться на одежду подрастающих потомков. Разумеется, младшее поколение обычно выражает свое недовольство, говоря, что не хотят ходить в обносках/don’t want to wear any hand-me-downs.
- To be in good hands – быть в хороших руках, быть под присмотром
Эта идиома используется, когда чья-то судьба оказывается в надежных руках, особенно после испытаний или трудностей. Так, фирма может оказаться в надежных руках нового владельца/the company is in good hands of the newly appointed manager.
- To tip your hand – «раскрыть карты», проболтаться, выдать свои планы
Многие идиомы закрепились в английском, придя из сферы азартных игр. В 16 веке слово «hand» также означало набор карт, который оказывался у игрока в начале партии. Если вы немного «наклоняете карты» во время игры, по неосторожности или преднамеренно показывая их противнику, вы даете ему преимущество. Сегодня идиома лишилась своего «шулерского» оттенка и употребляется, к примеру, когда кто-то не соглашается рассекретить подробности предстоящего проекта/doesn’t agree to tip his hand.
- To have a light hand/ to have a heavy hand – быть деликатным, тактичным/ быть суровым, грозным, бестактным
Плавные и ласковые или, наоборот, резкие и агрессивные жесты стали наглядным символом отношения человека к другим людям и особой манеры общения. Тот, кто обладает чувством такта и врожденной мягкостью, может ненавязчиво и незаметно разрешить конфликт или предотвратить его появление: Your mom has a light hand in quieting your naughty younger siblings/Твоя мама терпеливо и мягко успокаивает твоих непослушных младших братьев и сестер.
- To have a hand in smth – приложить руку к чему-то, принимать участие в чем-то
Впервые эта идиома была зафиксирована в английском в 1580 году, что означает, что рука еще пять веков назад была символом вмешательства или непосредственного участия в чем-то. Так, многие люди обычно задействованы в подготовке свадебной церемонии/a lot of people have their hand in organizing the wedding.
А теперь give us a high five – давайте пять – и не забывайте: мы в ответе за тех, кого приручили.
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«Straight flush of four, open at both ends—a good drawing hand.»
Chilton, you don’t mean—you didn’t try to get somebody’s hand and heart once, like Mr.
So, when we left him, he lay handcuffed hand and foot.
Hereupon Startop took him in hand, though with a much better grace than I had shown, and exhorted him to be a little more agreeable.
The dead jeddak’s hands and head were removed to be added to the ornaments of his conqueror, and then his women cremated what remained, amid wild and terrible laughter.
But Neville throws him off, and pauses for an instant, in a raging passion, with the goblet yet in his uplifted hand. Then, he dashes it down under the grate, with such force that the broken splinters fly out again in a shower; and he leaves the house.
«Then shift your pistol to the other hand,» said the Persian.
As he held out his hand for the shoe that had been taken from him, Mr.
I was alone again with my earthly fellow-beings—left with no clew to guide me but the remembrance of the child’s hand pointing eastward to the distant sea.
At his feet had squatted his three old wives, the oldest of them, toothless and somewhat palsied, ever presenting to his hand, at his head nod, a basket rough-woven of pandanus leaf.
Then I pointed to Chaka with my withered hand, saying, «Behold your king!»
In the midst of the service the voices of the priests suddenly ceased, they whispered to one another, and the old servant who was holding the count’s hand got up and said something to the ladies.
Observing this, and how, without another word, he made off, and observing too the resignation of the plaintiff, Sancho buried his head in his bosom and remained for a short space in deep thought, with the forefinger of his right hand on his brow and nose; then he raised his head and bade them call back the old man with the stick, for he had already taken his departure.
He held up his hand, rubbing the ball of the thumb over the calloused palm and gazing at the dirt that was ingrained in the flesh itself and which no brush could scrub away.
Withdrawing my hand when another hand already stretcheth out to it; hesitating like the cascade, which hesitateth even in its leap:—thus do I hunger for wickedness!
Идиомы с названиями частей тела занимают важное место в списке английских фразеологизмов. Сегодня предлагаю вам ознакомиться со списком английских идиом со словом рука (hand), а также с идиомами со словами wrist, palm, thumb, finger, arm и др. – то есть с тематическим списком идиом, так или иначе относящихся к «ручным» фразеологизмам. Все идиомы представлены с переводом.
Отработать использование идиом, можно выполнив следующие упражнения.
Hand-idioms
To overplay one’s hand – перестараться
To force someone’s hand — навести на мысль, подать идею
The upper hand – власть, авторитет, контроль
A bird in the hand – синица в руках
At first hand –из первоисточника
At second hand – опосредованно
At hand – поблизости, под рукой
Hands off – руки прочь
An old hand – знаток, эксперт
To eat out of smb.’s hand – заискивать, угождать
To have a hand –приложить руку
To have clean hands – быть невиновным
To get the upper hand – взять под контроль
To try one’s hand – попытать счастья
To get out of hand – выйти из-под контроля.
To give a hand – помогать
To play into someone’s hands– подыгрывать, помогать
To give smb. a free hand – дать полную свободу действий
On one’s hand – на попечении
Wrist-idioms
A slap on the wrist – небольшой выговор, порицание
Palm-idioms
To have an itching palm – страстно желать денег
To grease smb.’s palm – давать взятку
Thumb-idioms
To stick out like a sore thumb – выделяться, быть не к месту
To twiddle one’s thumbs – бездельничать
To have a green thumb – быть талантливым садоводом
To turn thumbs down – отвергнуть, отказаться
To thumb – голосовать, ехать на попутном транспорте
To thumb one’s nose — насмехаться, дразнить
Arm-idioms
A shot in the arm – стимул, улучшение
To keep smb.at arm’s length – держать кого-либо на расстоянии
Finger-idioms
To keep fingers crossed – желать удачи
To have one’s fingers in the till – красть деньги из кассы, казны.
To lay a finger – принести вред, повредить
To layput one’s finger – выяснить, понять, обнаружить
To keep one’s fingers crossed – надеяться
To lift a finger – попытаться, приложить усилия
To have one’s finger in – быть замешанным, участвовать
To have a finger in the pie – совать нос, вмешиваться
The finger of suspicion – подозрение
To have smb. wrapped around one’s little finger – пользоваться преданностью кого-либо
To have something at one’s fingertips – быть хорошо знакомым с чем-либо
To slip through one’s fingers – ускользать
Nail-idioms
Tooth and nail – изо всех сил
As hard as nails – непоколебимый
Fist-idioms
An iron fist – жесткая политика
A mailed fist – угроза ввода войск
Elbow-idioms
A tennis elbow – рука, которая ноет от избытка физической нагрузки
At smb.’s elbow – поблизости, под рукой
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Idioms and expressions with hand are often used to describe actions, behaviors, or emotions. Some examples of idioms and expressions with hand include “have a hand in,” “at hand,” “lend a hand,” “in good hands,” and “by the hand.”
The following lesson introduces more than 25 popular idioms and phrases with “hand” with useful example sentences and ESL image.
Here is the list of idioms and expressions with Hand in English:
1. By hand – made by a person and not a machine
E.g. The fabric was painted by hand.
2. At hand/handy – nearby
E.g. I like to keep my vocabulary at hand.
3. On hand – present, available.
E.g. Are there enough people on hand to hold a meeting?
We have lots of people on hand to help you with this project.
4. Out of hand – out of control.
E.g. Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.
5. First hand – to experience something yourself.
E.g. I never knew how hard it was to play the guitar until I tried it first-hand.
6. Second hand – not from the original source/ used object.
E.g. Tom advised him not to buy the second-hand car
7. On the one hand…On the other hand – Compare two aspects of a situation.
E.g. On the one hand she is beautiful, from another hand she talks too much.
8. Know like the back of your hand – very well.
E.g. She’ll give you the name of a place to stay – she knows the area like the back of her hand.
9. Give a hand/ lend a hand – to help somebody physically.
E.g. Could you lend me a hand with this piano?
10. Hands down – obviously, without a doubt/easily, decisively.
E.g. Tom was hands-down the best student at the university.
11. Force someone’s hand – compel them to act prematurely or involuntarily.
E.g. They decided to strike to force the management’s hand.
12. Get your hands dirty – to engage in an important activity that may not be pleasant.
E.g. He’s not frightened of getting his hands dirty.
13. Hand something up – to present it to a higher authority, such as grand jury to a judge.
E.g. Please hand up this coffee to Carl.
14. Have (someone’s) blood on (one’s) hands –To be the cause of (someone’s) death; to bear the guilt or responsibility of (someone’s) death or injury.
E.g. The police now have blood on their hands after their crackdown on protesters turned violent.
15. Heavy-handed – using too much of something in a way that can cause damage
E.g. Don’t be too heavy-handed with the salt.
16. To be underhanded is to be deceitful.
E.g. I promise you there’s nothing underhand about this agreement.
17. Hold/put your hands up – to admit that you have made a mistake or are responsible for something bad
E.g. I have to hold my hands up and admit that some of the problems have been all my own fault.
18. In somebody’s capable, safe, etc. hands – being taken care of or dealt with by somebody that you think you can rely on
E.g. Can I leave these queries in your capable hands?
19. In the hands of somebody, in somebody’s hands – being taken care of or controlled by somebody
E.g. The matter is now in the hands of my lawyer.
20. In safe hands, in the safe hands of somebody – being taken care of well by somebody
E.g. Their problem was in the safe hands of the experts.
21. Keep your hand in – to occasionally do something that you used to do a lot so that you do not lose your skill at it
E.g. She retired last year but still teaches the odd class to keep her hand in.
22. Take your courage in both hands – to make yourself do something that you are afraid of
E.g. Taking her courage in both hands, she opened the door and walked in.
23. Take the law into your own hands – to do something illegal in order to punish somebody for doing something wrong, instead of letting the police deal with them
E.g. After a series of burglaries in the area, the police are worried that residents might take the law into their own hands.
24. Take your life in your hands – to risk being killed
E.g. You take your life in your hands just crossing the road here.
25. Turn your hand to something – to start doing something or be able to do something, especially when you do it well
E.g. Jim can turn his hand to most jobs around the house.
26. Wait on somebody hand and foot – to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves
E.g. He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot.
27. Wash your hands of somebody/something – to refuse to be responsible for or involved with somebody/something
E.g. I’ve washed my hands of the whole sordid business.
28. Put your hand in your pocket – (British English) to spend money or give it to somebody
E.g. I’ve heard he doesn’t like putting his hand in his pocket.
Idioms and Expressions with HAND | Image
Idioms and Expressions with Hand – Infographic
Idioms and expressions make language more interesting and vibrant. They are a very important part of speech and native speakers use them frequently. So in order to improve your English and have fluent conversations, it’s essencial to continue studying vocabulary and expressions.
Today we will look at common expressions using the word “hand”. They are used a lot in the English language, it will help you converse and understand native English dialogue.
Read the definitions of the expressions and then do the exercises at the end to put these expressions into practice.
– On hand – available for use.
Example: “My mum always has lots of food on hand”
– In hand – in your possession or control.
Example: “He has the situation well in hand”
– Out of hand – very quickly without serious thought.
Example: “He decided to go to Italy out of hand”
– Out of hand (2) – not controlled.
Example: “Her children were tired and quickly got out of hand, running everywhere”
– At hand – close in distance or time.
Example: “She always keeps her phone close at hand”
– At first hand – in a direct way
Example: “I was able to verify his statement at first hand”
– Eat out of someone’s hand – to be completely controlled by someone.
Example: “Her boyfriend has her eating out of his hand”
– Offhand – without premeditation or preparation.
Example: “I can’t give you my telephone number offhand, I’ve forgotten it”
– By hand – with the hands.
Example: “Jane makes earrings by hand”
– Second hand – having had a previous owner.
Example: “I love my handbag, even though it’s second hand”
– Get/Lay your hands on – to find, get, or control (someone or something).
Example: “I finally managed to lay my hands on some of that chocolate cake”
– Hand in glove – very closely.
Example: “James and Sue are working hand in glove to make the project work”
– On the one hand, on the other hand – used to introduce statements that describe two different or opposite ideas, people, etc.
Example: “On the one hand, it’s really cheap, but on the other I can’t afford it”
Exercises
2. She couldn’t wait to __________ the money.
a. at first hand
b. offhand
c. get her hands on
3. All my friends were _______ to help me.
a. by hand
b. on hand
c. in hand
4. The kids got quite ________ during their trip to the museum.
a. out of hand
b. on hand
d. offhand
5. “Is that jumper new?” “No, it’s _________.”
a. first hand
b. second hand
c. by hand
The hand has been a symbol through the ages and in many cultures.
There are hundreds of expressions and combinations of words using hand in the English language. Let us examine some of the expressions that use hand.
We will get a hand in this way. To get a hand in is to begin a job, to begin to know something about it. When we learn the job completely, it will be easy for us. We will be able to do it hands down.
If we do the job well, we may end up with the upper hand. And that means to be in control, or to have gained complete understanding of a situation.
On the other hand, if the situation gets out of hand, then it is out of control. We must act quickly to regain the upper hand over these expressions.
But, wait. We still do not have the upper hand in this business.
We must consider another way of expressing praise, to hand it to someone. For example: I must hand it to you for understanding what we have discussed this far.
You can also lend a hand to someone, but without really giving up your hand. You lend a hand when you help someone. You offer them a helping hand.
If someone is kind enough to lend us a hand, then we surely do not want to bite the hand that feeds us. We do not want to repay his kindness by treating him badly.
Now, with that out of the way, we have a free hand to continue examining other hand expressions. To have a free hand in a situation is good. It means you are free to act without getting permission from someone else.
If we continue moving along, we will make progress hand over fist, or very rapidly. This expression began in the early seventeen hundreds. It reportedly comes from a sailing expression hand over hand, the way of quickly raising or lowering a sail.
Maybe you can find a friend who wants to take a hand in our project. It would have to be someone who is interested in these expressions.
Your friend may want to work hand in glove with us. That is good, because that means he wants to work as closely with us as a glove covers the hand. Of course there is a danger that he may look at our project and decide to take it in hand. That means he wants to take it over.
If that happens, we may throw up our hands because the situation seems hopeless. In fact, we may decide that it is time for us to end this project, to wash our hands of hand expressions.
CLICK HERE TO DO A QUIZ ABOUT HAND IDIOMS
Idioms with Hand: Idioms are small sentences or excerpts from longer ones, which have been taken to be used metaphorically, or in simpler words, to denote something other than its literal meaning. The subject of most idioms has been derived from everyday life, be it some animal around us or a body part or an object.
The symbolism of the hand is well-endowed and diverse. Hand phrases and idioms are used in the expression of certain abstract concepts.
Hence idioms can be categorized as per their subject. To make sentences using our body parts, head idioms, foot idioms, helping hand- idioms, finger idioms, so on and so forth are used.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
Here in this specific article, we will discuss some idioms, the subject of which is an important part of our body, the hand. A thorough study and understanding of hand phrases and idioms give us an idea of cross-cultural similarities and differences in how the hand has been conceptualized.
Names of Hand Idioms
- Meanings and examples of some commonly used hand idioms
List of Hand Idioms
- Play into someone’s hands
- In safe hands
- Live from hand to mouth
- Take the law into your own hands
- Get out of hand
- Force someone’s hand
- Hands full
- Hand (to someone) on a platter/plate
- Wash your hands of something
- Hand’s tied
- A show of hands
- On hand
- Hand in glove
- (All) Hands on deck
- Rap someone on the knuckles
- The left-hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing
- Knuckle down
- Like the back of one’s hand
- Have a free hand
- Get your hands dirty
- Iron hand/fist in a velvet glove
- first hand
- Change hands
- Second hand
- Put your hand in your pocket
- Turn your hand to something.
Meanings and examples of some commonly used hand idioms
Play into someone’s hands
Meaning: To shake somebody’s focus or confidence
Example: The overconfident players played right into their opponent’s hands
In safe hands
Meaning: Under someone’s care
Example: The future of the country is not in safe hands
Live from hand to mouth
Meaning: Not having enough resources to survive
Example: They had to live from hand to mouth to pay for their son’s school
Take the law into your own hands
Meaning: Do something to put a situation on the right track without waiting for the concerned authorities.
Example: On getting no response from the police, the father decided to take the law into his own hands to try to bring justice to his daughter
Get out of hand
Meaning: Slipping out of control
Example: The children were getting out of hands as they were growing up
Force someone’s hand
Meaning: Making it necessary for a person to do something
Example: She wanted to take an early leave, but the work pressure forced her hand
Hands full
Meaning: Someone who is extremely busy
Example: You will have your hands full as soon as you join this office
Hand (to someone) on a platter/plate
Meaning: Someone who is getting a particular thing without even working to earn it
Example: Our team’s defense had been horrifying yesterday; we handed a victory to the opponent team
Wash your hands of something
Meaning: Refusing to be involved or take responsibility for something
Example: The father washed his hands off his wife and daughter
Hand’s tied
Meaning: Unable to do something for a situation
Example: I desperately wanted to help her, but you can see my hands are tied
A show of hands
Meaning: People raising their hands to give a suggestion or support it
Example: After finishing the lecture, the teacher asked her students for a show of hands
On hand
Meaning: To own something
Example: He had the disputed land on hand
Hand in glove
Meaning: Someone who is closely connected
Example: He escaped the punishment as he was hand in glove with principal
(All) Hands on deck
Meaning: To work unitedly for achieving a goal
Example: The project was a success as everyone had their hands on the deck.
Rap someone on the knuckles
Meaning: Criticizing someone gently for doing something wrong
Example: The girl was rapped on the knuckles for eating in class
The left-hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing
Meaning: Lack of coordination
Example: The company was so mismanaged that the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing
Knuckle down
Meaning: Being dedicated to a task
Example: Being knuckle down towards idioms gave her a broader understanding of life.
Like the back of one’s hand
Meaning: Knowing someone or something very well.
Example: He knew the area like the back of his hand
Have a free hand
Meaning: Being independent with choices
Example: As she grew older, she felt the need to have a free hand
Get your hands dirty
Meaning: Practicing hard work
Example: You won’t learn anything properly until you get your hands dirty
Iron hand/fist in a velvet glove
Meaning: Someone who appears to be gentle but is forceful and severe in reality
Example: The gang leader has an iron hand in a velvet glove.
First hand
Meaning: directly self-learning or experience
Example: he knew first-hand what it was like to spend days with a very little amount of money; his father had always taught him to be very careful regarding money.
Change hands
Meaning: a particular thing which is bought by another different person or a group
Example: even after changing so many hands, the business company was still on the verge of bankruptcy.
Second hand
Meaning: a particular thing that is not from a source
Example: I was being advised several times not to buy that second-hand book
Put your hand in your pocket
Meaning: Someone who is asked to spend money or to lend it to a person
Example: Shyamal does not like to put his hands in his pockets; that is why we try to avoid him whenever we all go out.
Turn your hand to something
Example: someone starting a new thing,
Meaning: he can now turn on his hands on several job aspects as he is free nowadays.