Synonyms for hand down

Grammar : Verb

Spell : hand

Phonetic Transcription : hænd

Définition of hand down

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 The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.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 pass along

Example sentences :

Then he called to another officer to bear a hand down and see the fun.
Extract from : « Ned Myers » by James Fenimore Cooper

He brought his hand down with passion on the chair beside him.
Extract from : « The Coryston Family » by Mrs. Humphry Ward

She thrust her hand down to snatch up the papers, meaning to carry them away.
Extract from : « The Shadow of a Crime » by Hall Caine

He thrust his hand down into his pocket and stood gazing at the sidewalk.
Extract from : « Dr. Sevier » by George W. Cable

An' he brought the flat of his hand down with a slap on the shiny flank.
Extract from : « Prairie Flowers » by James B. Hendryx

Some baby must have put its hand down in the mud; but that's silly, of course.
Extract from : « The Banner Boy Scouts on a Tour » by George A. Warren

The landlord brought his hand down, with a heavy smack, on Leigh's shoulder.
Extract from : « No Surrender! » by G. A. Henty

“I do think so,” said the professor, clapping one hand down upon the other.
Extract from : « In the Mahdi's Grasp » by George Manville Fenn

A guest slams his hand down on the table and calls Tchedesky a name.
Extract from : « Trapped in 'Black Russia' » by Ruth Pierce

He put his hand down to turn an ashen branch into the heart of the fire.
Extract from : « The Children of Odin » by Padraic Colum

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