Is it farther or further?


[hand] /hænd/
the hands of a clock.
index (def 8).
a factory hand; a ranch hand.
a real hand at geometry.
skill; workmanship; characteristic touch:
a painting that shows a master's hand.
a person, with reference to ability or skill:
He was a poor hand at running a business.
a member of a ship's crew:
All hands on deck!
to have someone's fate in one's hands.
an action to strengthen one's hand.
means, agency; instrumentality:
death by his own hand.
assistance; aid; active participation or cooperation:
Give me a hand with this ladder.
side; direction:
no traffic on either hand of the road.
style of handwriting; penmanship:
She wrote in a beautiful hand.
a person's signature:
to set one's hand to a document.
a round or outburst of applause for a performer:
to get a hand.
a promise or pledge, as of marriage:
He asked for her hand in marriage.
  1. the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time.
  2. the person holding the cards.
Roman Law. manus (def 2).
To ride well, one must have good hands.
Building Trades.
the smooth hand of satin.
verb (used with object)
to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand.
He handed the elderly woman across the street.
  1. to take in or furl (a sail).
  2. to haul on or otherwise handle.
made by hand.
carried in or worn on the hand.
operated by hand; manual.
Verb phrases
hand down,
  1. to deliver (the decision of a court):
    The jury handed down a verdict of guilty.
  2. to transmit from one to another, especially to bequeath to posterity:
    The ring had been handed down from her grandmother.
hand in, to submit; present for acceptance:
She handed in her term paper after the deadline.
hand out, to give or distribute; pass out:
People were handing out leaflets on every corner.
hand over,
  1. to deliver into the custody of another.
  2. to surrender control of:
    He handed over his business to his children.
at first hand. firsthand (def 1).
at hand,
  1. within reach; nearby; close by.
  2. near in time; soon.
  3. ready for use:
    We keep a supply of canned goods at hand.
at second hand. second hand (def 3).
They suffered at the hands of their stepfather.
lace made by hand.
The property has changed hands several times in recent years.
come to hand,
  1. to come within one's reach or notice.
  2. to be received; arrive:
    The spring stock came to hand last week.
That spoiled brat has her parents eating out of her hand.
The legendary jewel went from hand to hand.
hand and foot,
  1. so as to hinder movement:
    They tied him hand and foot.
  2. slavishly and continually:
    Cinderella had to wait on her stepsisters hand and foot.
hand and glove, very intimately associated:
Also, hand in glove.
hand in hand,
  1. with one's hand enclasped in that of another person.
  2. closely associated; concurrently; conjointly:
    Doctors and nurses work hand in hand to save lives.
hand in one's checks, Chiefly British, cash1 (def 7).
hand over fist, speedily; increasingly:
hands down,
  1. effortlessly; easily:
    He won the championship hands down.
  2. indisputably; incontestably:
    It was hands down the best race I've ever seen.
Hands off my stereo!
hand to hand, in direct combat; at close quarters:
The troops fought hand to hand.
They have been seen holding hands in public.
in hand,
  1. under control:
    He kept the situation well in hand.
  2. in one's possession:
    cash in hand.
  3. in the process of consideration or settlement:
    regarding the matter in hand.
join hands, to unite in a common cause; combine:
The democracies must join hands in order to survive.
keep one's hand in, to continue to practice:
lay one's hands on,
  1. to obtain; acquire:
  2. to seize, especially in order to punish:
  3. to impose the hands in a ceremonial fashion, as in ordination:
    The bishop laid hands on the candidates.
Lend a hand and we'll finish the job in no time.
lift a hand, to exert any effort:
She wouldn't lift a hand to help anyone.
Also, lift a finger.
off one's hands,
  1. out of one's charge or care:
  2. successfully completed; finished:
on all hands,
  1. by everyone; universally:
    It was decided on all hands to take an excursion.
  2. on every side; all around:
    piercing glances on all hands.
Also, on every hand.
on hand,
  1. in one's possession; at one's disposal:
    cash on hand.
  2. about to occur; imminent:
    A change of government may be on hand.
  3. present:
    There were not enough members on hand to constitute a quorum.
He was left with a large surplus on his hands.
out of hand,
  1. beyond control:
    to let one's temper get out of hand.
  2. without delay; at once:
    The crisis obliged him to act out of hand.
  3. no longer in process; finished:
    The case has been out of hand for some time.
  4. without consideration or deliberation:
    to reject a proposal out of hand.
They shook hands on the proposed partnership.
The impending revolution forced him to show his hand.
sit on one's hands,
  1. to be unenthusiastic or unappreciative; fail to applaud:
  2. to take no action; be passive or hesitant:
take in hand,
  1. to undertake responsibility for; assume charge:
  2. to deal with; treat of:
    We'll take the matter in hand at the next meeting.
The provisions of the will tied his hands.
Also, have one's hands tied.
to hand,
  1. within reach; accessible or nearby.
  2. into one's possession:
    A search of the attic brought some valuable antiques to hand.
He turned his hand successfully to gardening.
I washed my hands of the entire affair.
with a heavy hand,
  1. with severity; oppressively:
    The law will punish offenders with a heavy hand.
  2. in a clumsy manner; awkwardly; gracelessly:
    The play was directed with a heavy hand.
He ran the organization with a high hand.
Related forms
handlike, adjective
16. script, calligraphy, longhand. Unabridged
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British Dictionary definitions for lay one's hands on


  2. the bones of this part related adjective manual
the corresponding or similar part in animals
something resembling this in shape or function
  1. the cards dealt to one or all players in one round of a card game
  2. a player holding such cards
  3. one round of a card game
agency or influence: the hand of God
assistance: to give someone a hand with his work
acceptance or pledge of partnership, as in marriage: he asked for her hand, he gave me his hand on the merger
a position or direction indicated by its location to the side of an object or the observer: on the right hand, on every hand
a member of a ship's crew: all hands on deck
(printing) another name for index (sense 9)
a person's handwriting: the letter was in his own hand
a round of applause: give him a hand
ability or skill: a hand for woodwork
a cluster or bundle, esp of bananas
a shoulder of pork
a free hand, freedom to do as desired
(usually used with a negative) a hand's turn, a small amount of work: he hasn't done a hand's turn
a heavy hand, tyranny, persecution, or oppression: he ruled with a heavy hand
a high hand, an oppressive or dictatorial manner
at hand, near at hand, very near or close, esp in time
at someone's hand, at someone's hands, from: the acts of kindness received at their hands
by hand
  1. by manual rather than mechanical means
  2. by messenger or personally: the letter was delivered by hand
come to hand, to become available; be received
force someone's hand, to force someone to act
from hand to hand, from one person to another
from hand to mouth
  1. in poverty: living from hand to mouth
  2. without preparation or planning
hand and foot, in all ways possible; completely: they waited on him hand and foot
hand in glove, in an intimate relationship or close association
hand in hand
  1. together; jointly
  2. clasping each other's hands
hand over fist, steadily and quickly; with rapid progress: he makes money hand over fist
hold one's hand, to stop or postpone a planned action or punishment
hold someone's hand, to support, help, or guide someone, esp by giving sympathy or moral support
in hand
  1. in possession
  2. under control
  3. receiving attention or being acted on
  4. available for use; in reserve
  5. with deferred payment: he works a week in hand
keep one's hand in, to continue or practise
lend a hand, to help
on hand, close by; present: I'll be on hand to help you
out of hand
  1. beyond control
  2. without reservation or deeper examination: he condemned him out of hand
set one's hand to
  1. to sign (a document)
  2. to start (a task or undertaking)
show one's hand, to reveal one's stand, opinion, or plans
take in hand, to discipline; control
throw one's hand in, See throw in (sense 3)
to hand, accessible
try one's hand, to attempt to do something
  1. of or involving the hand: a hand grenade
  2. made to be carried in or worn on the hand: hand luggage
  3. operated by hand: a hand drill
verb (transitive)
to transmit or offer by the hand or hands
to help or lead with the hand
(nautical) to furl (a sail)
hand it to someone, to give credit to someone
Derived Forms
handless, adjective
handlike, adjective
Word Origin


have a nice day
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for lay one's hands on



Old English hond, hand "hand; side; power, control, possession," from Proto-Germanic *khanduz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch, German hand, Old Norse hönd, Gothic handus). The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.

Meaning "person who does something with his hands" is from 1580s, hence "hired workman" (1630s) and "sailor in a ship's crew" (1660s). Clock and watch sense is from 1570s. Meaning "round of applause" is from 1838. The linear measure of 4 inches (originally 3) is from 1560s, now used only in giving the height of horses. The meaning "playing cards held in one player's hand" is from 1620s; that of "a round at a card game" is from 1620s.

First hand, second hand, etc. (mid-15c.) are from the notion of something being passed down from hand to hand. Out of hand (1590s) is opposite of in hand "under control" (c.1200). Hand over fist (1825) is suggestive of sailors and fishermen hauling in nets. Hand jive is from 1958. To win something hands down (1855) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory.

The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes was not the best contested one that it has been our fortune to assist at. ... [T]hey were won by Meteor, with Scott for his rider; who went by the post with his hands down, the easiest of all easy half-lengths. Wiseacre certainly did the best in his power to spoil his position, and Misdeal was at one time a little vexatious. ["The Sportsman," report from April 26, 1840]
To hand it to (someone) "acknowledge someone's ability" is slang from c.1906. Phrase on the one hand ... on the other hand is recorded from 1630s, a figurative 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 Old English Hands up! as a command from a policeman, robber, etc., is from 1873. Hand-to-mouth is from c.1500. Hand-in-hand attested from c.1500 as "with hands clasped;" figurative sense of "concurrently" recorded from 1570s.


c.1400, "take charge of, seize," from hand (n.). Meaning "to pass (something to someone)" is from 1640s. Related: Handed; handing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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lay one's hands on in Medicine

hand (hānd)


  2. A homologous or similar part in other animals.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Slang definitions & phrases for lay one's hands on



To give, esp something not desired; bestow forcefully, fraudulently, etc: The Red Sox handed the Yankees a 12 to 3 shellacking/ What kind of con job was he trying to hand you? (1919+)

Related Terms

both hands, cool hand, dead man's hand, give someone the glad hand, glad-hand, have one's hands full, not lay a glove on someone, tip one's mitt, with one's hand in the till, with one hand tied behind one's back

Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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Related Abbreviations for lay one's hands on


have a nice day
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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lay one's hands on in the Bible


Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms and Phrases with lay one's hands on


The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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