English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
HANDS, page 2
Idioms relating to the hands
from: 'hands full'
to: 'wash your hands of (something)'
- hands full
- If you have your hands full, you are very busy or
have a lot to do.
"Jenny has her hands full looking after three young children."
- If you have your hands full, you are very busy or
have a lot to do.
- (all) hands on deck
- When there is a need for all hands on deck,
everyone must help, especially if there's a
lot of work to be done in a short amount of time.
"As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to have everything ready in time."
- When there is a need for all hands on deck,
everyone must help, especially if there's a
lot of work to be done in a short amount of time.
- the devil makes work for idle hands
- This expression
means that people who do not have enough to
do are often tempted to do something wrong.
"It's not good for kids to have nothing to do at the week-end; the devil makes work for idle hands!"
- This expression
means that people who do not have enough to
do are often tempted to do something wrong.
- get your hands dirty
- If you get your
hands dirty in your job, you become
involved in all aspects of it, including
work that is physical, unpleasant or less
interesting.
"His willingness to get his hands dirty won the respect and approval of the whole team."
- If you get your
hands dirty in your job, you become
involved in all aspects of it, including
work that is physical, unpleasant or less
interesting.
- in safe hands
- If something is in safe hands, it is being looked after
by a reliable person or organisation, and is therefore at no risk.
"I'll look after Jamie while you go shopping. Don't worry - he'll be in safe hands."
- If something is in safe hands, it is being looked after
by a reliable person or organisation, and is therefore at no risk.
- hands tied
- If a person has their hands tied, something such as
an agreement or a rule is preventing them from doing what they would like to do.
"Mark deserves to earn more, but the manager's hands are tied by the recent salary agreement."
- If a person has their hands tied, something such as
an agreement or a rule is preventing them from doing what they would like to do.
- one hand washes the other (and together they wash the face)
- This expression
means that when people cooperate and work
well together, there is a better chance of a
achieving results.
- This expression
means that when people cooperate and work
well together, there is a better chance of a
achieving results.
- overplay your hand
- If you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and
spoil your chances of success by trying to obtain too much.
"Sam is hoping for a bonus for his good results, but he may be overplaying his hand if he asks for a promotion."
- If you overplay your hand, you are overconfident and
spoil your chances of success by trying to obtain too much.
- play into someone's hands
- If you play into someone's hands, you do exactly
what your opponent or enemy wants you to do, so that they gain an advantage over you.
"When the leaders of the protest movement became violent, they played right into the hands of the police."
- If you play into someone's hands, you do exactly
what your opponent or enemy wants you to do, so that they gain an advantage over you.
- a show of hands
- A show of hands is a method of voting where people give
their opinion by raising a hand.
"How many people agree? Could we have a show of hands please?"
- A show of hands is a method of voting where people give
their opinion by raising a hand.
- take the law into your own hands
- If, instead of calling the police, you act personally
against someone who has done something wrong, you take the law into your own hands.
"Instead of calling the police, he took the law into his own hands and confronted the youth who had stolen his son's scooter."
- If, instead of calling the police, you act personally
against someone who has done something wrong, you take the law into your own hands.
- upper hand
- If a person or organisation gets or gains the upper
hand, they take control over a situation.
"The authorities claim to have the upper hand in the fight against drinking and driving."
- If a person or organisation gets or gains the upper
hand, they take control over a situation.
- wash your hands of something
- If you wash your hands of a problem or situation,
you refuse to deal with it any longer.
"You can't just wash your hands of David's behaviour. He's your son!"
- If you wash your hands of a problem or situation,
you refuse to deal with it any longer.
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