E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
iii. Hand.
(Phrases beginning with “To.”)
1
COME TO HAND. To arrive; to have been delivered.
2
To come to one’s hand. It is easy to do.
3
GET ONE’S HAND IN. To become familiar with the work in hand.
4
HAVE A HAND IN THE MATTER. To have a finger in the pie. In French, “Mettre la main à quelque chose.”
5
KISS THE HAND (Job xxxi. 27) To worship false gods. Cicero (In Verrem, lib. iv. 43) speaks of a statue of Herculs, the chin and lips of which were considerably worn by the kisses of his worshippers. Hosea (xiii. 2) says, “Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.” (See ADORE.)
6
“I have left me seven thousand in Israel … which have not bowed unto Baal, and … which [have] not kissed [their hand to] him.”—1 Kings xix. 18.
LEND A HAND. To help. In French, “Prêtez moi la main.”
7
LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH. To live without any provision for the morrow.
8
TAKE IN HAND. To undertake to do something; to take the charge of.
s, the chin and lips of which were considerably worn by the kisses of his worshippers. Hosea (xiii. 2) says, “Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.” (See A
