556 – At Hand, On Hand, & In Hand

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Hey guys it’s Michael here from Happy English and I help people speak English better.

Seems like here in New York, summer is over and it’s really feeling like Fall outside. Unfortunately, it’s still corona season, so please…keep those masks up and be sure to social distance.

The other day, one of my students asked me about the difference between at hand, on hand, and in hand. That’s a really great question and it got me thinking about how we use these phrases and some other combinations of prepositions and the noun hand. Ok, let’s get the ball rolling!

Here are the example sentences. To get the details of this English lesson, you need to listen to the podcast or check the transcript for the details.

• The slide in the stock market indicates that another recession may be at hand.
• The government announced that a vaccine for COVID may be at hand.

• I know we should remodel the bathroom, but we have to focus on the task at hand, which is stopping the leak.
• Let’s try to finish the job at hand, which is the schedule for tomorrow’s meeting.

• She always keeps her phone at hand.
• I use a rechargeable mouse, so I always keep a spare one at hand.

• We have enough beer and wine on hand for the party, so we just need to go shopping for the food.
• I have a sweet tooth, so I always keep some chocolate on hand.

• Try working on this part of the spreadsheet yourself. I’ll be on hand if you need help.
• Grandma is in a nursing home where there are a lot of doctors and nurses on hand.

• With pen in hand I began to write her a letter.
• Sword in hand, the general lead his troops to the battle.
• He doesn’t have the cash in hand to buy that car.

• All of the jewelry in this shop is made by hand.
• Those grapes are very delicate, so they can only be harvested by hand.

• The party got out of hand and the neighbors called the police.
• Jack’s drinking was out of hand, so his girlfriend left him.

If you know anyone who might be interested in this English language point, why not help them out! Just share this lesson with them. Thanks for studying today!

---

---

Comments

comments