1.
[syn: out of hand, beyond control]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw.
hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and
perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.]
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in
man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other
animals; manus; paw. See Manus.
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2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the
office of, a human hand; as:
(a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or
any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
(b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute
hand of a clock.
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3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a
palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
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4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.
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On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex.
xxxviii. 15.
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The Protestants were then on the winning hand.
--Milton.
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5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill;
dexterity.
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He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
--Addison.
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6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence,
manner of performance.
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To change the hand in carrying on the war.
--Clarendon.
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Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my
hand. --Judges vi.
36.
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7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or
competent for special service or duty; a performer more or
less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand
at speaking.
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A dictionary containing a natural history requires
too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be
hoped for. --Locke.
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I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
--Hazlitt.
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8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or
running hand. Hence, a signature.
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I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak.
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Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril.
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9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction;
management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand
one year's tribute." --Knolles.
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Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the
government of Britain. --Milton.
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10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to
buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when
new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the
producer's hand, or when not new.
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11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand,
where there is small dispatch." --Bacon.
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12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as:
(a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the
dealer.
(b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied
together.
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13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock,
which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
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Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts
or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the
hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a
symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as:
(a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the
head, which implies thought, and the heart, which
implies affection. "His hand will be against every
man." --Gen. xvi. 12.
(b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures.
"With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you."
--Ezek. xx. 33.
(c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to
give the right hand.
(d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the
hand; to pledge the hand.
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Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or
without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand;
as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe:
used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or
handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or
hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand
loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or
hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the
hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or
hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following
paragraph are written either as two words or in
combination.
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Hand bag, a satchel; a small bag for carrying books,
papers, parcels, etc.
Hand basket, a small or portable basket.
Hand bell, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell.
--Bacon.
Hand bill, a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill.
Hand car. See under Car.
Hand director (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a
good position of the hands and arms when playing on the
piano; a hand guide.
Hand drop. See Wrist drop.
Hand gallop. See under Gallop.
Hand gear (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine,
or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power,
may be operated by hand.
Hand glass.
(a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of
plants.
(b) A small mirror with a handle.
Hand guide. Same as Hand director (above).
Hand language, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as
practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.
Hand lathe. See under Lathe.
Hand money, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest
money.
Hand organ (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank
turned by hand.
Hand plant. (Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below). -- Hand
rail, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. --Gwilt.
Hand sail, a sail managed by the hand. --Sir W. Temple.
Hand screen, a small screen to be held in the hand.
Hand screw, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or
weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp.
Hand staff (pl. Hand staves), a javelin. --Ezek. xxxix.
9.
Hand stamp, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or
canceling papers, envelopes, etc.
Hand tree (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico
(Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose
stamens unite in the form of a hand.
Hand vise, a small vise held in the hand in doing small
work. --Moxon.
Hand work, or Handwork, work done with the hands, as
distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.
All hands, everybody; all parties.
At all hands, On all hands, on all sides; from every
direction; generally.
At any hand, At no hand, in any (or no) way or direction;
on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand
consisting with the safety and interests of humility."
--Jer. Taylor.
At first hand, At second hand. See def. 10 (above).
At hand.
(a) Near in time or place; either present and within
reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand;
I hear his trumpet." --Shak.
(b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at
hand." --Shak.
At the hand of, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we
receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive
evil?" --Job ii. 10.
Bridle hand. See under Bridle.
By hand, with the hands, in distinction from
instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed
a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand.
Clean hands, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of
dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that
hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." --Job
xvii. 9.
From hand to hand, from one person to another.
Hand in hand.
(a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. --Swift.
(b) Just; fair; equitable.
As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand
comparison. --Shak.
Hand over hand, Hand over fist, by passing the hands
alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand
over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand
over hand.
Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what
one does. [Obs.] --Bacon.
Hand running, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand
running.
Hands off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!
Hand to hand, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to
hand contest. --Dryden.
Heavy hand, severity or oppression.
In hand.
(a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . .
a far greater reward hereafter." --Tillotson.
(b) In preparation; taking place. --Chaucer. "Revels . .
. in hand." --Shak.
(c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction;
as, he has the business in hand.
In one's hand or In one's hands.
(a) In one's possession or keeping.
(b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my
hand.
Laying on of hands, a form used in consecrating to office,
in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.
Light hand, gentleness; moderation.
Note of hand, a promissory note.
Off hand, Out of hand, forthwith; without delay,
hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to
be hanged up out of hand." --Spenser.
Off one's hands, out of one's possession or care.
On hand, in present possession; as, he has a supply of
goods on hand.
On one's hands, in one's possession care, or management.
Putting the hand under the thigh, an ancient Jewish
ceremony used in swearing.
Right hand, the place of honor, power, and strength.
Slack hand, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.
Strict hand, severe discipline; rigorous government.
To bear a hand (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten.
To bear in hand, to keep in expectation with false
pretenses. [Obs.] --Shak.
To be hand and glove with or To be hand in glove with.
See under Glove.
To be on the mending hand, to be convalescent or improving.
To bring up by hand, to feed (an infant) without suckling
it.
To change hand. See Change.
To change hands, to change sides, or change owners.
--Hudibras.
To clap the hands, to express joy or applause, as by
striking the palms of the hands together.
To come to hand, to be received; to be taken into
possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday.
To get hand, to gain influence. [Obs.]
Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them.
--Baxter.
To get one's hand in, to make a beginning in a certain
work; to become accustomed to a particular business.
To have a hand in, to be concerned in; to have a part or
concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in.
To have in hand.
(a) To have in one's power or control. --Chaucer.
(b) To be engaged upon or occupied with.
To have one's hands full, to have in hand all that one can
do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed
with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with
difficulties.
To have the (higher) upper hand, or To get the (higher)
upper hand, to have, or get, the better of another person or
thing.
To his hand, To my hand, etc., in readiness; already
prepared. "The work is made to his hands." --Locke.
To hold hand, to compete successfully or on even
conditions. [Obs.] --Shak.
To lay hands on, to seize; to assault.
To lend a hand, to give assistance.
To lift the hand against, or To put forth the hand
against, to attack; to oppose; to kill.
To live from hand to mouth, to obtain food and other
necessaries as want compels, without previous provision.
To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit.
To put the hand unto, to steal. --Ex. xxii. 8.
To put the last hand to or To put the finishing hand to,
to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect.
To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake.
That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that
thou settest thine hand to. --Deut. xxiii.
20.
To stand one in hand, to concern or affect one.
To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety
for another's debt or good behavior.
To take in hand.
(a) To attempt or undertake.
(b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand.
To wash the hands of, to disclaim or renounce interest in,
or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash
one's hands of a business. --Matt. xxvii. 24.
Under the hand of, authenticated by the handwriting or
signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and
seal of the owner.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Out \Out\ (out), adv. [OE. out, ut, oute, ute, AS. [=u]t, and
[=u]te, [=u]tan, fr. [=u]t; akin to D. uit, OS. [=u]t, G.
aus, OHG. [=u]z, Icel. [=u]t, Sw. ut, Dan. ud, Goth. ut, Skr.
ud. [root]198. Cf. About, But, prep., Carouse, Utter,
a.]
In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior
of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in
a position or relation which is exterior to something; --
opposed to in or into. The something may be expressed
after of, from, etc. (see Out of, below); or, if not
expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the
house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out
from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc. Out is used in a
variety of applications, as:
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1. Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a
usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual,
place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out.
Opposite of in. "My shoulder blade is out." --Shak.
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He hath been out (of the country) nine years.
--Shak.
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2. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy,
constraint, etc., actual or figurative; hence, not in
concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of
freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; a matter
of public knowledge; as, the sun shines out; he laughed
out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out,
or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is
out.
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Leaves are out and perfect in a month. --Bacon.
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She has not been out [in general society] very long.
--H. James.
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3. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to
the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of
extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the
fire, has burned out; that style is on the way out. "Hear
me out." --Dryden.
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Deceitful men shall not live out half their days.
--Ps. iv. 23.
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When the butt is out, we will drink water. --Shak.
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4. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or
into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of
office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the
Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money
out at interest. "Land that is out at rack rent." --Locke.
"He was out fifty pounds." --Bp. Fell.
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I have forgot my part, and I am out. --Shak.
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5. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct,
proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or
incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement,
opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. "Lancelot
and I are out." --Shak.
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Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of
their own interest. --South.
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Very seldom out, in these his guesses. --Addison.
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6. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the
state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.
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7. Out of fashion; unfashionable; no longer in current vogue;
unpopular.
[PJC]
Note: Out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with
the same significations that it has as a separate word;
as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo,
outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under
Over, adv.
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Day in, day out, from the beginning to the limit of each of
several days; day by day; every day.
Out at, Out in, Out on, etc., elliptical phrases, that
to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being
omitted; as, out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of
the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods.
Three fishers went sailing out into the west,
Out into the west, as the sun went down. --C.
Kingsley.
Note: In these lines after out may be understood, "of the
harbor," "from the shore," "of sight," or some similar
phrase. The complete construction is seen in the
saying: "Out of the frying pan into the fire."
Out from, a construction similar to out of (below). See
Of and From.
Out of, a phrase which may be considered either as composed
of an adverb and a preposition, each having its
appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound
preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with
verbs of movement or action, from the interior of; beyond
the limit: from; hence, origin, source, motive, departure,
separation, loss, etc.; -- opposed to in or into; also
with verbs of being, the state of being derived, removed,
or separated from. Examples may be found in the phrases
below, and also under Vocabulary words; as, out of breath;
out of countenance.
Out of cess, beyond measure, excessively. --Shak.
Out of character, unbecoming; improper.
Out of conceit with, not pleased with. See under Conceit.
Out of date, not timely; unfashionable; antiquated.
Out of door, Out of doors, beyond the doors; from the
house; not inside a building; in, or into, the open air;
hence, figuratively, shut out; dismissed. See under
Door, also, Out-of-door, Outdoor, Outdoors, in the
Vocabulary. "He 's quality, and the question's out of
door," --Dryden.
Out of favor, disliked; under displeasure.
Out of frame, not in correct order or condition; irregular;
disarranged. --Latimer.
Out of hand, immediately; without delay or preparation;
without hesitation or debate; as, to dismiss a suggestion
out of hand. "Ananias . . . fell down and died out of
hand." --Latimer.
Out of harm's way, beyond the danger limit; in a safe
place.
Out of joint, not in proper connection or adjustment;
unhinged; disordered. "The time is out of joint." --Shak.
Out of mind, not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit
of memory; as, time out of mind.
Out of one's head, beyond commanding one's mental powers;
in a wandering state mentally; delirious. [Colloq.]
Out of one's time, beyond one's period of minority or
apprenticeship.
Out of order, not in proper order; disarranged; in
confusion.
Out of place, not in the usual or proper place; hence, not
proper or becoming.
Out of pocket, in a condition of having expended or lost
more money than one has received.
Out of print, not in market, the edition printed being
exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc.
Out of the question, beyond the limits or range of
consideration; impossible to be favorably considered.
Out of reach, beyond one's reach; inaccessible.
Out of season, not in a proper season or time; untimely;
inopportune.
Out of sorts, wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell;
unhappy; cross. See under Sort, n.
Out of temper, not in good temper; irritated; angry.
Out of time, not in proper time; too soon, or too late.
Out of time, not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an
agreeing temper; fretful.
Out of twist, Out of winding, or Out of wind, not in
warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of
surfaces.
Out of use, not in use; unfashionable; obsolete.
Out of the way.
(a) On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded.
(b) Improper; unusual; wrong.
Out of the woods, not in a place, or state, of obscurity or
doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe. [Colloq.]
Out to out, from one extreme limit to another, including
the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to
measurements.
Out West, in or towards, the West; specifically, in some
Western State or Territory. [U. S.]
To come out, To cut out, To fall out, etc. See under
Come, Cut, Fall, etc.
To make out See to make out under make, v. t. and v.
i..
To put out of the way, to kill; to destroy.
Week in, week out. See Day in, day out (above).
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
out of hand
adv 1: out of control; "the riots got out of hand" [syn: out of
hand, beyond control] [ant: in hand]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
75 Moby Thesaurus words for "out of hand":
abandoned, ad lib, at short notice, at sight, beyond control,
breachy, by ear, contumacious, defiant, extemporaneously,
extemporarily, extempore, fractious, go-go, immoderate, impromptu,
incontinent, incorrigible, indocile, indomitable, indulgent,
insuppressible, intemperate, intractable, irrepressible, lax,
licentious, loose, nonrestrictive, obstreperous, off the cuff,
off the hip, offhand, on sight, out of control, permissive,
rampant, recalcitrant, refractory, reinless, resistant, resisting,
restive, riotous, shrewish, unbiddable, unbridled, unchecked,
uncoerced, uncompelled, unconstrained, uncontrollable,
uncontrolled, uncurbed, unforced, ungovernable, ungoverned,
uninhibited, unmalleable, unmanageable, unmastered, unmeasured,
unmoldable, unmuzzled, unreined, unrepressed, unreserved,
unrestrained, unrestrictive, unruly, unsubdued, unsubmissive,
unsuppressed, wanton, wild