Antonyms for hands over

Grammar : Verb

Spell : hand

Phonetic Transcription : hænd

Definition of hands over

Origin : Old English hond, hand "hand; side; power, control, possession," from Proto-Germanic *khanduz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch, German hand, Old Norse hönd, Gothic handus). The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.
Meaning "person who does something with his hands" is from 1580s, hence "hired workman" (1630s) and "sailor in a ship's crew" (1660s). Clock and watch sense is from 1570s. Meaning "round of applause" is from 1838. The linear measure of 4 inches (originally 3) is from 1560s, now used only in giving the height of horses. The meaning "playing cards held in one player's hand" is from 1620s; that of "a round at a card game" is from 1620s.
First hand, second hand, etc. (mid-15c.) are from the notion of something being passed down from hand to hand. Out of hand (1590s) is opposite of in hand "under control" (c.1200). Hand over fist (1825) is suggestive of sailors and fishermen hauling in nets. Hand jive is from 1958. To win something hands down (1855) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory.
The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes was not the best contested one that it has been our fortune to assist at. ... [T]hey were won by Meteor, with Scott for his rider; who went by the post with his hands down, the easiest of all easy half-lengths. Wiseacre certainly did the best in his power to spoil his position, and Misdeal was at one time a little vexatious. ["The Sportsman," report from April 26, 1840]
To hand it to (someone) "acknowledge someone's ability" is slang from c.1906. Phrase on the one hand ... on the other hand is recorded from 1630s, a figurative use of the physical sense of hand in reference to position on one side or the other side of the body (as in the lefthand side), which goes back to Old English Hands up! as a command from a policeman, robber, etc., is from 1873. Hand-to-mouth is from c.1500. Hand-in-hand attested from c.1500 as "with hands clasped;" figurative sense of "concurrently" recorded from 1570s.

verb give back; release

Example sentences :

Then he ran his hands over the straps; they were drawn taut.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Little Katie put her hands over her ears to keep out the sound.
Extract from : « Classic Myths » by Mary Catherine Judd

"I can't hear a word you're saying," she said, beating her hands over her ears.
Extract from : « The Eternal City » by Hall Caine

She put her hands over her eyes, and her face into the pillow.
Extract from : « Dr. Sevier » by George W. Cable

Forepaugh cupped his hands over his mouth and gave the call.
Extract from : « Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930 » by Various

Then, as the hands over mouth and throat withdrew, she saw they were Ted's.
Extract from : « Tree, Spare that Woodman » by Dave Dryfoos

"Oh, we're celebrating," he said, rubbing his hands over the reluctant blaze.
Extract from : « The Market-Place » by Harold Frederic

Dawes cupped his hands over the plate glass and peered inside.
Extract from : « Dream Town » by Henry Slesar

She passed her hands over her eyes in an effort to recall what she had seen.
Extract from : « The Web of the Golden Spider » by Frederick Orin Bartlett

She was back among the cushions, with her hands over her eyes.
Extract from : « Harper's Young People, October 12, 1880 » by Various

Synonyms for hands over

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019