WORDS AND THEIR STORIES - Expressions Use Hand

By Marilyn Christiano

Broadcast: Sunday, April 03, 2005

Now, the VOA Special English program, "Words and Their Stories".

The hand has been a symbol through the ages and in many cultures. There are hundreds of expressions and combinations¹ of words using hand in the English language. Let us examine some of the expressions that use hand.

We will get a hand in this way. To get a hand in is to begin a job. To begin to know something about it. When we learned² completely, it will be easy for us. We will be able to do it hands down. If we do the job well, we may end up with the upper hand. That means to be in control or to have gain complete understanding of a situation. On the other hand, if the situation gets out of hand then , it is out of control. We must act quickly to regain⁴ the upper hand over these expressions. But wit³, we still do not have the upper hand in this business. We must consider another way of expressing phrase. To hand it to someone. For example, I must hand it to you for understanding what have discussed this far. You can also lend a hand to someone but without really giving up your hand. You lend a hand when you help someone. You offer them a helping⁵ hand. If someone is kind enough to lend us a hand then we surely do not want to bite the hand that feeds us. We do not want to repay⁶ his kindness by treating him badly.

Now where that out of the way we have a free hand to continue examining other hand expressions. To have a free hand in a situation is good. It means you are free to act without getting permission from someone else. If we continue moving along, we will make progress. Hand over fist or very rapidly. This expression began in the early 1700s. It reportedly comes from a selling expression. Hand over hand . The way of quickly raising or lowering a sale. Maybe you can find a friend who wants to take a hand in our project. It would have to be someone who was interested in these expressions. Your friend may want to work hand in glove with us. That is good because that means he wants to work as closely⁷ with us as a glove covers the hand. Of course, there is a danger that may look at our project and decide to take it in hand. That means he wants to take it over. If that happens, we may throw up our hands because the situation seems hopeless. In fact, we may decide that it is time for us to end this project to wash our hands of hand expressions.

This VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories was written by Marilyn Christiano. Maurice Joyce was our narrator .I'm Shirley Griffith.

1 combinations   

n.合作( combination的名词复数 )；密码组合；联合体；排列

参考例句：

• The music students are learning how to score tunes for various combinations. 学音乐的学生把曲调改编为各种器乐组曲。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some antigens, or combinations of antigens, are much more potent than others. 某些抗原或者联合抗原可比其它抗原作用强得多。 来自辞典例句

2 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 wit   

n.智力，才智，智能

参考例句：

• Our teacher is full of wit when he has a lesson. 我们的老师只要讲课就很风趣。
• He is a man of many words but of little wit.他爱说话，但头脑简单。

4 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 repay   

v.偿还，报答，还钱给

参考例句：

• I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
• I must repay her for her kindness.我必须报答她的恩惠。

7 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。