To hand
preposition
Close by; in easy reach.
Keep your calculator to hand during the examination.
Often appears as...
- keep to hand
- have to hand
verb
Pass or give something to someone directly.
He handed me the letter.
Often appears as...
- hand to me
- hand to her
preposition
Available or nearby when needed.
She always keeps her phone to hand.
Often appears as...
- keep to hand
- have to hand
verb
Transfer responsibility or a task to someone.
I will hand the project to the new manager.
Often appears as...
- hand responsibility to
- hand task to
Usage tips
Formal
Business
preposition
Close by; in easy reach.
Keep your calculator to hand during the examination.
Often appears as...
- keep to hand
- have to hand
verb
Pass or give something to someone directly.
He handed me the letter.
Often appears as...
- hand to me
- hand to her
preposition
Available or nearby when needed.
She always keeps her phone to hand.
Often appears as...
- keep to hand
- have to hand
verb
Transfer responsibility or a task to someone.
I will hand the project to the new manager.
Often appears as...
- hand responsibility to
- hand task to
Usage tips
Formal
Business
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Physical Proximity
Refers to something physically close enough to reach without moving much.
Keep the emergency button to hand when operating the machine.
Pro Tip 2/2Improvised Use
Implies you may need to use something unexpectedly and should keep it within easy reach.
During the hike, I kept my water bottle to hand.
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