a telling hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a telling hand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has a significant or revealing influence, often in a context related to storytelling or conveying emotions. Example: "Her gestures were subtle yet powerful, revealing a telling hand in her performance that captivated the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He had a telling hand in England's other two, too.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This is what one on the street would call a shakedown," Howard told Hands, who did not have an explanation.

The Guardian

But his romantic closing portrait of the Brooklyn Bridge today has a telling sleight of hand.

The New York Times - Books

Indeed, in what Iranians saw as a telling gesture, Mr. Ahmadinejad kissed the hand of Ayatollah Khamenei after he was elected.

The New York Times

An exchange when the filmmaker asks her how she feels about being on the cover – an action shot, ball in hand – leaves a telling reminder of how we are teaching our young girls to see themselves.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In The Rat Catcher, on this month's cover, Rembrandt's light hand scratched a telling rat's tale in a local transaction between an itinerant peddler and a homeowner.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

It is the difference between deciding to pick up a mug or telling your hand to move towards it.

BBC

With that rogues gallery in attendance, the orgy is just as sordid as you'd expect; women are bussed in to a mansion, told to hand over their possessions and given some MDMA – molly – to loosen them up.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Nigel waved a hand, telling me to climb down.

The New York Times - Magazine

If it gets out of hand, telling an adult is not a bad thing.

WikiHow

But be aware that it can't help you if you get a court order telling you to hand over your phone because of something that has happened at work.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a telling hand" to subtly suggest influence without explicitly stating control or dominance. It's effective in narratives where the character's impact is gradually revealed.

Common error

Avoid using "a telling hand" excessively in formal reports or business communications. Opt for more direct language like "significant influence" or "key contribution" for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a telling hand" primarily functions as a noun phrase that describes a significant influence or contribution. As Ludwig AI suggests, it signifies someone having a notable impact. It often appears in narrative or descriptive contexts to subtly imply influence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a telling hand" describes a notable influence or contribution, mainly used in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Although not very common, its effectiveness lies in subtly suggesting impact, making it suitable for narrative and descriptive writing. When a more direct and formal tone is required, alternatives such as "significant contribution" or "key role" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Significant contribution

Focuses on the importance of the contribution rather than the manner of involvement.

Key role

Highlights the importance of the role played by someone in an event or project.

Major influence

Emphasizes the extent of impact someone has on something.

Instrumental part

Stresses the essential nature of someone's contribution to a process or outcome.

Important involvement

Underscores the significance of someone's participation.

Leading part

Indicates a primary or guiding role in something.

Critical participation

Highlights that the participation was crucial.

Vital function

Focuses on the necessity of the function performed by someone.

Pivotal role

Emphasizes the turning-point nature of the role.

Substantial impact

Highlights the large scale of impact produced.

FAQs

How can I use "a telling hand" in a sentence?

Use "a telling hand" to describe someone or something that has a noticeable influence or effect on an outcome. For instance, "His experience had "a telling hand" in the project's success".

What does "a telling hand" mean?

"A telling hand" refers to a noticeable influence or impact someone has on something, often implying a significant contribution or role in achieving a particular result.

Which is a better phrase, "a telling hand" or "significant influence"?

The choice between "a telling hand" and "significant influence" depends on the context. "A telling hand" is more metaphorical and suitable for narrative or descriptive contexts, while "significant influence" is more direct and appropriate for formal or analytical writing.

What can I say instead of "a telling hand"?

You can use alternatives like "significant contribution", "key role", or "major influence" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.