hands
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
How often you will meet it
Rank 206 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 111,956 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.053% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- (with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child also: custody my fate is in your handstoo much power in the president's hands
- the force of workers available also: work force, workforce, manpower, men
hands in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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She put the paper into his hands.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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She did not shake hands, but she nodded to me pleasantly.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1
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They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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He must get the girl and the chaperon off his hands, and be at his business.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Have your stage hands, prompter, property managers, scene painters and all your assistants on hand at every rehearsal, if possible.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1