Handy expressions

We use our hands in so many ways—to manipulate our physical environment, to express ourselves, to make contact with others. Not surprising, then, that hands have made their way into countless expressions. Try your hand at figuring out which meaning goes with each expression.

1. do something with one hand tied behind one’s backa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
2. do something hand over fista) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
3. play into someone’s handsa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
4. be putty in someone’s handsa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
5. decide that a bird in the hand is worth two in the busha) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
6. wait on someone hand and foota) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
7. have one’s hands fulla) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
8. hand over the reinsa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
9. work hand in handa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage
10. have one hand tied behind one’s backa) keep what you have rather than risk it for something betterb) give someone an advantagec) be too easily influenced by someone elsed) relinquish controle) be fully occupiedf) work closely with someone or something elseg) attend to someone’s every needh) do something easilyi) do something very rapidlyj) be at a significant disadvantage