 18 Idiomatic Expressions with Hand from EspressoEnglish.net Idioms or idiomatic expressions are short phrases that have a different meaning from the individual words. In this lesson you'll learn 18 idioms all using the word hand. 1. Get out of hand This means to get out of control. For example, we had to call the police after the party got a little out of hand. 2. Experience firsthand This means to experience it yourself. For example, I didn't understand how hard parenting is until I experienced it firsthand. 3. Change hands This means to pass or sell something to another person. For example, this house has changed hands several times in the past ten years. 4. Have your hands full or have got your hands full. This means to be completely busy or occupied. For example, they have six kids and four dogs. They've definitely got their hands full. 5. Try your hand at This means to try an activity for the first time. For example, I've never taken guitar lessons but I'd like to try my hand at it. 6. Give a hand or lend a hand This means to help somebody. For example, I can't carry all these books by myself. Could you give me a hand? 7. On hand This means available. It's used for objects, not people. For example, I like to have a dictionary on hand when I'm reading a book in English. 8. Wash your hands of This means to stop being responsible for a situation or problem. For example, the manager washed his hands of the situation and told us to resolve it ourselves. 9. Hands are tied. This means not to have the ability to help or take action. For example, sorry but my hands are tied. I can't buy the equipment without my boss's approval. 10. Know like the back of your hand. This means to know a place extremely well. For example, she lived in Miami for 20 years. She knows the city like the back of her hand. 11. Hands down This means obviously or without a doubt. For example, Sarah was hands down the best skater at the competition. 12. A hand me down This is a piece of clothing that belonged to an older brother or sister and is passed to a younger brother or sister. For example, my mother never bought me new clothes. She just gave me hand-me-downs for my sister. 13. Second hand This means previously used, not new. For example, I bought my microwave second hand at a garage sale. 14. In good hands. This means in the care of someone good or knowledgeable. For example, William's an excellent mechanic. Your car's in good hands. 15. Have a hand in. This means to have a role in. For example, my cousin had a hand in getting me my job. He knows the company president. 16. Take matters into your own hands. This means to take action on a problem yourself because other people have not done so. For example, my secretary kept forgetting to make my hotel reservation so I took matters into my own hands and made it myself. 17. Tip your hand. This means to reveal a secret about your plans or opinions. For example, the famous director tipped his hand on plans for his next movie. 18. On one hand, on the other hand. This is used to compare two aspects of a situation. For example, on one hand my job pays well, but on the other hand it's very stressful. Visit www.EspressoEnglish.net for more English tips. If you like this video, please share.