hand down (something)

hand down (something)
hand down (something) 1. to give something to a younger member of a family.

Fewer and fewer small farms are handed down from one generation to the next.

My grandfather handed his toy trains down to my father.

Usage notes: sometimes said about people who are not related:

He believes that confidence cannot be handed down from your coach or anyone else.

2. to announce a decision in a trial.

After a three-month trial, the jury handed down a guilty verdict.

Related vocabulary: hands down Etymology: both meanings come from the idea of someone older or in authority literally handing something to someone smaller or less important

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • hand down — verb passed on, as by inheritance (Freq. 1) This ring was handed down through many generations • Hypernyms: ↑pass on • Verb Frames: Somebody s something Somebody s something to somebody * * * hand down [phrasal verb …   Useful english dictionary

  • hand down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you hand down something such as knowledge, a possession, or a skill, you give or leave it to people who belong to a younger generation. [V P n (not pron)] The idea of handing down his knowledge from generation to generation is… …   English dictionary

  • hand down — ► hand down 1) pass (something) on to a successor. 2) announce formally or publicly. Main Entry: ↑hand …   English terms dictionary

  • hand down — I (Roget s IV) v. Syn. pass on, bequeath, grant; see give 1 . II (Roget s Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To convey (something) from one generation to the next: bequeath, hand on, pass (along or on), transmit. See GIVE. 2. To deliver (an indictment or… …   English dictionary for students

  • hand down — arrange to give something to someone after your death My grandmother handed down her silver jewellery to my mother …   Idioms and examples

  • hand — [hand] n. [ME < OE, akin to Goth handus < base of hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense “grasper”) < ? IE base * kent , ? to seize] I 1. the part of the human body attached to the end of the forearm, including the wrist, palm, fingers,… …   English World dictionary

  • hand — ► NOUN 1) the end part of the arm beyond the wrist. 2) (before another noun ) operated by or held in the hand. 3) (before another noun or in combination ) done or made manually. 4) a pointer on a clock or watch indicating the passing of units of… …   English terms dictionary

  • hand — hand1 W1S1 [hænd] n ↑finger, ↑fingernail, ↑thumb ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(part of body)¦ 2¦(help)¦ 3¦(control)¦ 4 get out of hand 5 on the other hand 6 hands off 7 in hand …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hand — 1 noun PART OF THE BODY 1 (C) the part at the end of a person s arm, including the fingers and thumb, used to pick up or keep hold of things: He held the pencil in his right hand. | Go wash your hands. | hold hands: They kissed and held hands. |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • hand — hand1 [ hænd ] noun *** ▸ 1 body part at end of arm ▸ 2 help ▸ 3 clapping ▸ 4 part of clock ▸ 5 set of cards you hold ▸ 6 advantages in situation ▸ 7 someone working on farm/ship ▸ 8 handwriting ▸ 9 unit of height of horses ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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