ADJ

left, right
beautiful, delicate, long-fingered, pretty
well-manicured
coarse, rough, work-reddened, work-roughened, work-worn
soft
firm, strong
limp
He offered a limp hand to shake
frail
arthritic
gnarled, knotted
claw-like
hairy
clammy
He clutched the cane in his clammy hand
cool
His hand, when she shook it, was cool and firm
dirty, filthy, greasy, grubby, sticky, sweaty, unwashed
He wiped his greasy hands on the front of his overalls
clean
gloved
ringed
ringless
open, outspread
She gestured towards the window with an open hand
outstretched
She walked towards him with her hand outstretched to take his
free
With his free hand he took hold of the knife
cupped
She rested her chin in her cupped hand
busy, deft
Her busy hands had transformed the tiny room into a work of art
willing
There's plenty of work for willing hands
eager
Eager hands reached out to help him
nervous, shaking, trembling, unsteady
steady
A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand
friendly, sympathetic
He put a friendly hand on his friend's knee
generous, liberal (both figurative)
She filled our glasses with a generous hand
capable, expert, practised, skilful, skilled
With a practised hand he motioned a waiter to bring a fresh pot of coffee
careless, clumsy

VERB + HAND

take
She took the child's hand and helped him climb the steps
hold, hold on to
They walked along, holding hands. She held on to my hand as I tried to leave
reach for
He reached for her hand and held it tightly
press, squeeze, touch
She pressed his hand. 'I know,' she said softly
shake
He shook Blake's hand as if they were long lost friends. He shook hands with all of us before leaving
feel
I felt a hand on my shoulder
extend, hold out, put out, reach out
She smiled and extended a hand in welcome. He put out a hand as if to touch her
lay, place, press, put
He laid a hand on her arm. She put her hands to her cheeks in embarrassment
slide
He slid his hands into his pockets
withdraw
Slowly Ruth withdrew her hand from his
hold up, lift, put up, raise, throw up
He lifted his hand to her face. Several students put up their hands to answer the question. She raised her hand in farewell. He threw up his hands in despair when he saw the damage
spread
She shrugged and spread her hands. ' That's all I can tell you. '
wave
clap
We were all clapping our hands in time to the music
clasp, clench, rub, wring
He had his hands clasped behind his head. She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. He rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. He was sobbing and wringing his hands by the grave
beat
He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration
cup
I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone so they couldn't hear me
wash
wipe

HAND + VERB

shake, tremble
Her hand shook as she lifted the glass to her lips
reach out, shoot out
A strong hand reached out and caught hold of her arm
grope for sth, reach for sth, seek sth
My hand groped for the door handle. His hand sought hers
find sth
His hand eventually found the light switch
catch sth, clamp, clasp sth, close around/on/round sth, fasten around/on/round sth, grab sth, grasp sth, seize sth
The policeman kept a firm hand clamped on his shoulder
clutch sth, grip sth, hold sth
claw (at) sth, pull sth, tug sth
His hands clawed at the muddy earth
push sth
squeeze sth, tighten sth
brush (across/against) sth, caress sth, stroke sth, touch sth
His hand brushed against hers
creep, go, move, slide, slip, steal, stray
Muriel's hand crept to her neck to hold her pearls
fly
Her hand flew to her mouth. 'Oh no!'
jerk, twitch
run over/through sth, trail
Her hand ran over the surface, feeling the different textures
freeze, still
His hand froze in mid-gesture
hover, waver
My hand hovered over the switch for a moment
lie, rest
His hand rested on her shoulder
go up, shoot up
come down, descend, drop
A large hand descended on his shoulder. His hands dropped to his sides and he fell to the floor
withdraw
lift, rise
Her hand lifted to place a cigarette in her mouth
cover sth
Her hand moved to cover his

HAND + NOUN

gesture, movement, position, signal
dryer, towel
drill, saw (also handsaw), tools
pump
mirror
baggage, luggage
You can take your laptop on the plane as hand luggage
cream
delivery
Mail for hand delivery is put in a separate tray
grenade, gun (also handgun)
injury

PREP

by ~
Delicate clothes should be washed by hand
by … ~s
The rocks looked like they had been shaped by human hands
in your ~
She had a piece of paper in her hand. (figurative) Can I leave these queries in your capable hands?
on your ~
She had large rings on both hands
with your ~
Operate the gears with your left hand

PHRASES

fall into the wrong hands (figurative)
Guards made sure that the food supplies didn't fall into the wrong hands
get/keep/take your hands off sb/sth
She warned her brother to keep his hands off her bag
get/lay your hands on sth
I desperately need to lay my hands on some money by Monday
hand in hand
They walked hand in hand along the path
hands on hips
She stood in the doorway, hands on hips
in safe hands
(figurative) He retired feeling confident that his company was in safe hands
on (your) hands and knees
He was on his hands and knees, looking for a contact lens
out of sb's hands
(figurative) I don't work in that department any more, so the problem is out of my hands
the palm of your hand
She studied the object in the palm of her hand
run a hand/your hands over/through, etc. sth
Clive ran a hand through his hair
with your bare hands
He killed the lion with his bare hands

VERB + HAND

give sb, lend (sb)
Can you give me a hand with loading the van? At harvest time all the villagers lend a hand
need
Do you need a hand with those invoices?

VERB + HAND

have
strengthen
The strategic alliance served to strengthen the country's hand in the region

PREP

~ in
Several of his colleagues had a hand in his downfall

ADJ

bad, good

VERB + HAND

deal (sb)
Who dealt the last hand? (figurative) She felt that life had dealt her a bad hand
get, have
play