Antonyms for handing out


Grammar : Verb
Spell : hand
Phonetic Transcription : hænd


Definition of handing out

Origin :
  • 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 The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.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.
  • verb give to others
Example sentences :
  • The brothers in the West must be more careful about handing out tickets.
  • Extract from : « Blacksheep! Blacksheep! » by Meredith Nicholson
  • Not all, for some were handing out everything eatable they had.
  • Extract from : « Diary of an Enlisted Man » by Lawrence Van Alstyne
  • "Here's your nickel," said Tad, handing out a five-cent piece.
  • Extract from : « The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge » by Frank Gee Patchin
  • Let me not be misunderstood as handing out a bone, for an oppressive system.
  • Extract from : « Broke » by Edwin A. Brown
  • “Here are the necessaries of life,” said Agatha, handing out a brush and comb.
  • Extract from : « Modern Broods » by Charlotte Mary Yonge
  • Where did Al Cloud get that line of talk he was handing out, anyway?
  • Extract from : « Cloudy Jewel » by Grace Livingston Hill
  • You stand there handing out sass while hehe may be dying back there.
  • Extract from : « The Gray Phantom's Return » by Herman Landon
  • "Please send this to Miss Isaacson," he said, handing out a firm card.
  • Extract from : « Potash & Perlmutter » by Montague Glass
  • Well, Jule went on, well soon see what comes of the signals of danger he is now handing out to us!
  • Extract from : « The River Motor Boat Boys on the Mississippi » by Harry Gordon
  • Berkeley was shameless in corrupting the representatives of the people by handing out jobs.
  • Extract from : « Give Me Liberty » by Thomas J. Wertenbaker

Synonyms for handing out

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019