hand

noun (CONTROL)

/hænd/

Definition

C2 [U] control or responsibility: Things got a little out of hand (= the situation stopped being controlled) at the party and three windows were broken. In my first year at college my drinking got completely out of hand. The police have the situation in hand (= under control). How come there's a problem? I thought you had everything in hand (= arranged and organized). Their youngest child needs taking in hand (= they should start to control her) if you ask me.Power to control hands C2 [plural] › control or responsibility: I'm worried about confidential information falling into the wrong hands (= being received by people who could use it against us). Are you sure your money's in safe hands? You're in excellent hands with her - she's a very good doctor. Unless I receive a satisfactory response from you within a month I shall put this matter in(to) the hands of (= make it the responsibility of) my solicitor. They're trying to get old stock off their hands by cutting prices. We get Daryl off our hands one evening a week when my mother looks after him. The court will decide how much money you get - the decision is out of our hands (= is not our responsibility). He's got a real problem on his hands (= he has something difficult to deal with). I don't have enough time on my hands (= I do not have enough time) to work and look after the children.Capturing or taking possession of thingsGetting, receiving and accepting

(Definition of hand noun (CONTROL) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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