Antonyms for lend a hand
Grammar : Verb |
Spell : hand |
Phonetic Transcription : hænd |
- abandon
- abbreviate
- abstain
- bear
- block
- burden
- cease
- check
- conceal
- condemn
- contradict
- counteract
- create
- curtail
- decrease
- delay
- deny
- depress
- deprive
- destroy
- deter
- differ
- diminish
- direct
- disagree
- disapprove
- discontinue
- discourage
- disprove
- dissuade
- disturb
- encumber
- frustrate
- halt
- handicap
- harm
- hide
- hinder
- hold
- hurt
- ignore
- impede
- injure
- invalidate
- keep
- kill
- leave
- lessen
- let down
- let go
- liquefy
- maintain
- melt
- neglect
- observe
- obstruct
- oppose
- play down
- prevent
- protest
- reduce
- refuse
- reject
- shorten
- slow
- soften
- starve
- stop
- subtract
- take
- take away
- thwart
- trouble
- undermine
- upset
- veto
- wash hands
- watch
- weaken
- withhold
- worsen
Definition of lend a hand
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 The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.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.
- As in assist : verb help
- As in participate : verb take part in activity
- As in pitch in : verb help out
- As in reinforce : verb strengthen, augment
- As in step in : verb become involved
- As in sustain : verb keep up, maintain
- As in cooperate : verb aid, assist
- As in aid : verb help, support
- As in do for : verb help
- As in further : verb advance, lend support
- As in help : verb aid, assist
Synonyms for lend a hand
- abet
- accommodate
- add fuel to fire
- add to
- advance
- advocate
- agree
- aid
- alleviate
- approve
- arrive
- assist
- associate with
- attack
- back
- back up
- bail out
- ballyhoo
- band
- bankroll
- be a participant
- be a party to
- be in cahoots
- be into
- be invited
- be of use
- bear
- beef up
- befriend
- begin
- benefact
- benefit
- bolster
- boost
- brace
- buck up
- buckle down
- build up
- buoy
- buttress
- care for
- carry
- champion
- cheer
- chip in
- coadjute
- coincide
- collaborate
- combine
- come
- come in
- come through
- comfort
- commence
- compete
- comply with
- concert
- concur
- conduce
- confirm
- conspire
- continue
- contribute
- contribute work
- convey
- cooperate
- coordinate
- defend
- do
- do a favor
- do a service
- do for
- do one's bit
- do one's part
- emphasize
- encourage
- endorse
- energize
- engage
- engage in
- engender
- enlarge
- enter
- enter into
- espouse
- expedite
- facilitate
- fall to
- favor
- feed
- fortify
- forward
- foster
- further
- generate
- get cracking
- get going
- get in on
- get in on the act
- give a boost
- give a boost to
- give a leg up
- give a lift
- go along with
- go down the line for
- go for
- go into
- go to bat for
- go to it
- go with
- grease the wheels
- harden
- hasten
- have a hand in
- have to do with
- heat up
- help
- help out
- help; get busy
- hop to it
- hype
- increase
- intercede
- interfere
- intermediate
- interpose
- intervene
- join forces
- join in
- jump in
- keep alive
- keep from falling
- keep going
- latch on
- launch
- league
- lend a hand
- lighten
- look after
- lug
- maintain
- make a pitch for
- mediate
- mitigate
- multiply
- negotiate
- nourish
- nurse
- nurture
- open doors
- open doors for
- pack
- partake
- participate
- partner
- patronize
- perform
- pick up
- pillar
- pitch in
- play
- play ball
- plug
- plunge into
- pool resources
- preserve
- prolong
- promote
- prop
- prop up
- propagate
- protract
- provide for
- puff
- pull together
- punch up
- push
- put on the map
- ratify
- reinforce
- relieve
- ride shotgun
- root for
- run interference for
- sanction
- save
- second
- see through
- serve
- set about
- set to
- share
- share in
- shore up
- show willingness
- side with
- sit in
- sit in on
- soup up
- speed
- stand by
- stand up for
- steady
- stick together
- stick up for
- stiffen
- stimulate
- straighten out
- stress
- strive
- stroke
- stump
- stump for
- subscribe
- subsidize
- succor
- supplement
- supply
- support
- sustain
- tackle
- take action
- take an interest in
- take care of
- take part
- take under one's wing
- tee off
- thump
- tote
- toughen
- transfer
- transport
- tune in
- underline
- unite
- uphold
- validate
- verify
- volunteer
- wade in
- work for
- work side by side
- work together
- work with
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019