give a hand to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give a hand to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask someone for help or assistance. For example: "Can you give me a hand to carry these boxes?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"It's a new era when giants give a hand to us," Ms. Jean said.

The New York Times

But you have to give a hand to all of them, because you don't know which one is going to arrive.

The New York Times

He needs to give a hand to Santos and together forge a stronger agreement which will be more credible and sustainable.

The Guardian

Mr. Veltroni said Wednesday that he was not shutting the door on the party he helped to create and he pledged to "give a hand to this project".

The New York Times

"Women" doesn't even pause long enough to allow the audience to give a hand to the first solo sung by Patti LuPone, the biggest name on the marquee here.

The New York Times

David Cameron says that he wants to fund 3m apprenticeships by 2020, while Labour has pledged to create 80,000 "high-quality" ones a year.The coalition government also tried to give a hand to manufacturing industry.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

As post time for the Preakness neared Sellers gave a hand to the groom who was dressing the colt.

The New Yorker

Welfare, Mrs Weinrib taught us in that first grade classroom, was keeping America strong by giving a hand to new immigrants and to hyphenated Americans in New York City.

University of California, Berkeley

Now she is spending her time helping disabled veterans and giving a hand to her 80-year-old husband, who broke his hip in a fall.

The New York Times

It quotes Abu al Walid, an opposition activist in insurgent controlled eastern Syrian town of Raqqa as Assad "is giving a hand to his ally, Maliki".

The Guardian

At each juncture, he argues, government has faced a choice between doing nothing or giving a hand to businesses and individuals and setting "rules of the road" to curb market excesses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "give a hand to" when you want to express offering or providing help to someone in a practical or tangible way.

Common error

Avoid using "give a hand to" in highly formal or professional documents; opt for alternatives like "assist" or "support" to maintain a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "give a hand to" is as an idiomatic verb phrase, indicating the act of providing assistance or support. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

HuffPost

4%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "give a hand to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to offer or provide assistance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. While its register is generally neutral to informal, it's versatile enough for various contexts, primarily appearing in news media and general conversation. When aiming for a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "assist" or "support". Understanding its appropriate context and potential alternatives is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

offer a helping hand to someone

More descriptive and emphasizes the act of providing assistance.

help someone out

Emphasizes providing assistance in a friendly or informal manner.

assist someone

Focuses on the action of helping, removing the idiomatic nature of the original phrase.

aid someone

A more formal way of saying help, suitable for professional contexts.

support someone

Highlights the act of providing encouragement or resources.

lend assistance to someone

A more formal and emphatic way of offering help.

back someone up

Focuses on supporting someone, often in a challenging situation.

pitch in with someone

Suggests joining efforts to help with a task or project.

contribute to someone's efforts

Highlights contributing resources or effort towards a shared goal.

be of service to someone

A very formal and polite way to offer assistance.

FAQs

How can I use "give a hand to" in a sentence?

You can use "give a hand to" to express offering help. For example, "Can you "give a hand to" carry these boxes?"

What are some alternatives to "give a hand to"?

Alternatives include "assist someone", "help someone out", or "support someone", depending on the context.

Is "give a hand to" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "give a hand to" is generally more informal. In formal writing, consider using "lend assistance to someone" or offer more direct alternatives.

What does it mean to "give a hand to" someone?

To "give a hand to" someone means to offer or provide help or assistance to that person. It's an idiomatic way of saying you're willing to support them in some way.