grasped with both hands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grasped with both hands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone fully engaging with or taking hold of something, often in a metaphorical sense, such as an idea or opportunity. Example: "She grasped the concept with both hands, eager to implement it in her project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Paris offers a generational opportunity; one that we believe should be firmly grasped with both hands.

The Guardian

Moments of solitude were rare and must be grasped with both hands.

The Guardian - Books

A man who grasped with both hands the potential of changing historical circumstances, who broke down barriers, who won his freedom from the protectionist controls of the colonisers through the economic independence he generated with his art – and who also endured the state of affairs that ultimately brought him to Papunya, rather than relinquish that existential freedom.

The Guardian - Arts

After firing his approach over the back of the green, the world number two overcooked his chip and sent the ball racing back past the hole before coming up short with a 40-foot par putt to give McIlroy a chance he grasped with both hands.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is testimony to the hard work and dedication of the many people in Highland Perthshire who have grasped, with both hands, the organisation of such a major event and have added their own touch of excellence to the Enchanted Forest.

BBC

It is ironic that the EU referendum campaign, an opportunity which Johnson grasped with both hands, was the point at which the dream began to unravel.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

With Hanoi's Red River dykes still in his bomb sights, McCain is ready to grasp with both hands, not the lessons of the Vietnam, but the next tar baby our dangerous times produce.

The Guardian - Opinion

A graduate of Brown University, JoePa was known for quoting Virgil and Shakespeare in his Brooklyn accent, and loved the Robert Browning line, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Certainly, he was grasping with both hands in January 2011.

The New York Times

Director of planning and environment services, Alistair Speedie, admitted it was a "fundamental change" but one the council would grasp "with both hands".

BBC

So I was enthusiastic about grasping with both hands at some semblance of normalcy (and beverages) with someone who really, truly knew what I was going through.

Huffington Post

Hold, grasping with both hands and pull up to the chest holding for five seconds.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grasped with both hands" to vividly describe someone's enthusiastic and complete acceptance of an opportunity or concept, conveying a sense of eagerness and determination.

Common error

Avoid using "grasped with both hands" when a more subtle acceptance or understanding is intended. It suggests a strong, almost aggressive seizing of something, so choose a more nuanced phrase if the context requires it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grasped with both hands" typically functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, often modifying a noun or pronoun to illustrate the manner in which an action was performed. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its role in expressing eagerness and complete engagement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grasped with both hands" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that conveys enthusiastic and complete acceptance or understanding. Ludwig's analysis and the available examples show that it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While the phrase isn't exceptionally common, it's valuable for vividly describing someone's proactive engagement with an opportunity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is essential to use this phrase when the intensity of acceptance needs to be emphasized, and it's crucial to avoid overusing it in contexts that require more subtlety. Alternatives such as ""seized wholeheartedly"" or ""jumped at the chance"" can offer similar but nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jumped at the chance

Highlights the eagerness and speed in accepting an opportunity.

seized wholeheartedly

Emphasizes enthusiasm and completeness in embracing an opportunity.

completely embraced

Highlights totality and enthusiasm in acceptance.

made the most of

Focuses on maximizing the benefits of a situation or resource.

embraced fully

Focuses on acceptance and adoption without necessarily implying speed or opportunism.

eagerly adopted

Stresses enthusiasm and readiness in accepting something.

capitalized on

Stresses the conversion of a situation into an advantage.

took advantage of

Highlights the opportunistic aspect of using something beneficial.

welcomed with open arms

Conveys a sense of warmth and acceptance.

fully understood

Shifts the focus to comprehension rather than seizing an opportunity.

FAQs

What does "grasped with both hands" mean?

The phrase "grasped with both hands" means to accept an opportunity or understand a concept enthusiastically and completely, indicating eagerness and determination.

What can I say instead of "grasped with both hands"?

You can use alternatives like "seized wholeheartedly", "embraced fully", or "jumped at the chance" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "grasp with both hands" instead of "grasped with both hands"?

While "grasp with both hands" is grammatically correct, it's typically used in the imperative form (as a command or instruction) or in hypothetical situations. "Grasped with both hands" is the past tense form and describes a completed action.

How to use "grasped with both hands" in a sentence?

You can use "grasped with both hands" to describe someone enthusiastically embracing an opportunity. For example, "She "seized the opportunity" and "grasped with both hands", determined to make the most of it."