Collocations for hand - noun
1. part of the body
ADJ.
left, right | beautiful, delicate, long-fingered, pretty | well-manicured | coarse, rough, work-reddened, work-roughened, work-worn | soft | firm, strong | limp
He offered a limp hand to shake.
He offered a limp hand to shake.
frail | arthritic | gnarled, knotted | claw-like | hairy | clammy
He clutched the cane in his clammy hand.
He clutched the cane in his clammy hand.
cool
His hand, when she shook it, was cool and firm.
His hand, when she shook it, was cool and firm.
dirty, filthy, greasy, grubby, sticky, sweaty, unwashed
He wiped his greasy hands on the front of his overalls.
He wiped his greasy hands on the front of his overalls.
clean | gloved | ringed | ringless | open, outspread
She gestured towards the window with an open hand.
She gestured towards the window with an open hand.
outstretched
She walked towards him with her hand outstretched to take his.
She walked towards him with her hand outstretched to take his.
free
With his free hand he took hold of the knife.
With his free hand he took hold of the knife.
cupped
She rested her chin in her cupped hand.
She rested her chin in her cupped hand.
busy, deft
Her busy hands had transformed the tiny room into a work of art.
Her busy hands had transformed the tiny room into a work of art.
willing
There''s plenty of work for willing hands
There''s plenty of work for willing hands
eager
Eager hands reached out to help him.
Eager hands reached out to help him.
nervous, shaking, trembling, unsteady | steady
A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand.
A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand.
friendly, sympathetic
He put a friendly hand on his friend''s knee.
He put a friendly hand on his friend''s knee.
generous, liberal
(both figurative) She filled our glasses with a generous hand.
(both figurative) She filled our glasses with a generous hand.
capable, expert, practised, skilful, skilled
With a practised hand he motioned a waiter to bring a fresh pot of coffee.
With a practised hand he motioned a waiter to bring a fresh pot of coffee.
careless, clumsy
VERB + HAND
take
She took the child''s hand and helped him climb the steps.
She took the child''s hand and helped him climb the steps.
hold, hold on to
They walked along, holding hands. | She held on to my hand as I tried to leave.
They walked along, holding hands. | She held on to my hand as I tried to leave.
reach for
He reached for her hand and held it tightly.
He reached for her hand and held it tightly.
press, squeeze, touch
She pressed his hand. ‘I know, ’ she said softly.
She pressed his hand. ‘I know, ’ she said softly.
shake
He shook Blake''s hand as if they were long lost friends. | He shook hands with all of us before leaving.
He shook Blake''s hand as if they were long lost friends. | He shook hands with all of us before leaving.
feel
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
extend, hold out, put out, reach out
She smiled and extended a hand in welcome. | He put out a hand as if to touch her.
She smiled and extended a hand in welcome. | He put out a hand as if to touch her.
lay, place, press, put
He laid a hand on her arm. | She put her hands to her cheeks in embarrassment.
He laid a hand on her arm. | She put her hands to her cheeks in embarrassment.
slide
He slid his hands into his pockets.
He slid his hands into his pockets.
withdraw
Slowly Ruth withdrew her hand from his.
Slowly Ruth withdrew her hand from his.
hold up, lift, put up, raise, throw up
He lifted his hand to her face. | Several students put up their hands to answer the question. | She raised her hand in farewell. | He threw up his hands in despair when he saw the damage.
He lifted his hand to her face. | Several students put up their hands to answer the question. | She raised her hand in farewell. | He threw up his hands in despair when he saw the damage.
spread
She shrugged and spread her hands. ‘That''s all I can tell you.’
She shrugged and spread her hands. ‘That''s all I can tell you.’
wave | clap
We were all clapping our hands in time to the music.
We were all clapping our hands in time to the music.
clasp, clench, rub, wring
He had his hands clasped behind his head. | She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. | He rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. | He was sobbing and wringing his hands by the grave.
He had his hands clasped behind his head. | She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. | He rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. | He was sobbing and wringing his hands by the grave.
beat
He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.
He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.
cup
I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone so they couldn''t hear me.
I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone so they couldn''t hear me.
wash | wipe
HAND + VERB
shake, tremble
Her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her lips.
Her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her lips.
reach out, shoot out
A strong hand reached out and caught hold of her arm.
A strong hand reached out and caught hold of her arm.
grope for sth, reach for sth, seek sth
My hand groped for the door handle. | His hand sought hers.
My hand groped for the door handle. | His hand sought hers.
find sth
His hand eventually found the light switch.
His hand eventually found the light switch.
catch sth, clamp, clasp sth, close around/on/round sth, fasten around/on/round sth, grab sth, grasp sth, seize sth
The policeman kept a firm hand clamped on his shoulder.
The policeman kept a firm hand clamped on his shoulder.
clutch sth, grip sth, hold sth | claw (at) sth, pull sth, tug sth
His hands clawed at the muddy earth.
His hands clawed at the muddy earth.
push sth | squeeze sth, tighten sth | brush (across/against) sth, caress sth, stroke sth, touch sth
His hand brushed against hers.
His hand brushed against hers.
creep, go, move, slide, slip, steal, stray
Muriel''s hand crept to her neck to hold her pearls.
Muriel''s hand crept to her neck to hold her pearls.
fly
Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no!’
Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh no!’
jerk, twitch | run over/through sth, trail
Her hand ran over the surface, feeling the different textures.
Her hand ran over the surface, feeling the different textures.
freeze, still
His hand froze in mid-gesture.
His hand froze in mid-gesture.
hover, waver
My hand hovered over the switch for a moment.
My hand hovered over the switch for a moment.
lie, rest
His hand rested on her shoulder.
His hand rested on her shoulder.
go up, shoot up | come down, descend, drop
A large hand descended on his shoulder. | His hands dropped to his sides and he fell to the floor.
A large hand descended on his shoulder. | His hands dropped to his sides and he fell to the floor.
withdraw | lift, rise
Her hand lifted to place a cigarette in her mouth.
Her hand lifted to place a cigarette in her mouth.
cover sth
Her hand moved to cover his.
Her hand moved to cover his.
HAND + NOUN
gesture, movement, position, signal | dryer, towel | drill, saw (also ‘handsaw’), tools | pump | mirror | baggage, luggage
You can take your laptop on the plane as hand luggage.
You can take your laptop on the plane as hand luggage.
cream | delivery
Mail for hand delivery is put in a separate tray.
Mail for hand delivery is put in a separate tray.
grenade, gun (also ‘handgun’) | injury
PREP.
by ~
Delicate clothes should be washed by hand.
Delicate clothes should be washed by hand.
by … ~s
The rocks looked like they had been shaped by human hands.
The rocks looked like they had been shaped by human hands.
in your ~
She had a piece of paper in her hand. | (figurative) Can I leave these queries in your capable hands?
She had a piece of paper in her hand. | (figurative) Can I leave these queries in your capable hands?
on your ~
She had large rings on both hands.
She had large rings on both hands.
with your ~
Operate the gears with your left hand.
Operate the gears with your left hand.
PHRASES
fall into the wrong hands
(figurative) Guards made sure that the food supplies didn''t fall into the wrong hands.
(figurative) Guards made sure that the food supplies didn''t fall into the wrong hands.
get/keep/take your hands off sb/sth
She warned her brother to keep his hands off her bag.
She warned her brother to keep his hands off her bag.
get/lay your hands on sth
I desperately need to lay my hands on some money by Monday.
I desperately need to lay my hands on some money by Monday.
hand in hand
They walked hand in hand along the path.
They walked hand in hand along the path.
hands on hips
She stood in the doorway, hands on hips.
She stood in the doorway, hands on hips.
in safe hands
(figurative) He retired feeling confident that his company was in safe hands.
(figurative) He retired feeling confident that his company was in safe hands.
on (your) hands and knees
He was on his hands and knees, looking for a contact lens.
He was on his hands and knees, looking for a contact lens.
out of sb''s hands
(figurative) I don''t work in that department any more, so the problem is out of my hands.
(figurative) I don''t work in that department any more, so the problem is out of my hands.
the palm of your hand
She studied the object in the palm of her hand.
She studied the object in the palm of her hand.
run a hand/your hands over/through, etc. sth
Clive ran a hand through his hair.
Clive ran a hand through his hair.
with your bare hands
He killed the lion with his bare hands.
He killed the lion with his bare hands.
2. a hand: help
VERB + HAND
give sb, lend (sb)
Can you give me a hand with loading the van? | At harvest time all the villagers lend a hand.
Can you give me a hand with loading the van? | At harvest time all the villagers lend a hand.
need
Do you need a hand with those invoices?
Do you need a hand with those invoices?
3. role in a situation
VERB + HAND
have | strengthen
The strategic alliance served to strengthen the country''s hand in the region.
The strategic alliance served to strengthen the country''s hand in the region.
PREP.
~ in
Several of his colleagues had a hand in his downfall.
Several of his colleagues had a hand in his downfall.
4. in card games
ADJ.
bad, good
VERB + HAND
deal (sb)
Who dealt the last hand? (figurative) She felt that life had dealt her a bad hand.
Who dealt the last hand? (figurative) She felt that life had dealt her a bad hand.
get, have | play