on someone's hands

English

Pronunciation

• (on one's hands)

  Audio (AU)

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Prepositional phrase

on someone's hands

1. (idiomatic) Being someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.

   Antonym: off someone's hands

   • 1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us:

     When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers […]

2. (idiomatic) Available to be used by someone; in someone's possession.

   Synonym: at someone's disposal

   I've got a lot of time on my hands.

   • 1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day:

     It is most curious to see that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to simply wander about this house bothering others […]

Related terms

• blood on someone's hands
• have blood on one's hands
• in someone's hands

 

See also

• on hand