hand about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hand about" is not correct and does not have a clear meaning in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey a sense of passing or distributing something, but it is not a recognized expression. Example: "I need to hand about the documents to everyone in the meeting." (Note: this usage is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Bush knows at first hand about addiction.

The Guardian

"We think that they've played that hand about as well as they could".

The New York Times

On the other hand, about one-fifteenth of electricity generated in Poland was exported.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"She's like this short," he said, holding his hand about five feet off the ground.

The New York Times

On the other hand, about $112 million was spent on advertising for branded chickens in 1985.

The New York Times

The aim of the lesson was to learn first hand about life across the globe.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Gerard Hodgins knows first-hand about self-starvation as a form of political protest.

Vice

We've learned first-hand about the problems we face.

The Washington Post

In this program, you'll learn first-hand about the biology and management of domestic animals.

Cornell University

Many years of learning first-hand about the importance of tolerance and open-mindedness changed that.

Independent

You'll get to know people and find out first-hand about opportunities".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sizes or distances with a hand gesture, use descriptive adjectives like "about six inches" or "approximately one foot" for better clarity.

Common error

Be careful when using "hand about" to mean distribute or move something erratically. It's often clearer to use more precise verbs like "distribute", "wave", or "shake" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hand about" functions primarily as part of a descriptive phrase, often used to indicate an approximation or a gesture. However, Ludwig AI considers it grammatically incorrect in many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

29%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hand about" appears frequently across various sources, it is often used informally to describe approximations or gestures. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that more precise and formal language should be preferred in professional or academic settings. Alternatives like "approximately", "roughly", or specific action verbs such as "distribute" or "wave" offer greater clarity. When clarity is important, it is recommended to use the alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately

This term conveys the concept of an estimation or nearness in quantity, size, or degree, similar to estimating with a hand gesture.

roughly

This suggests a lack of precision but a general understanding of quantity or size.

in the vicinity of

This phrase is used for approximating a location or quantity.

in the neighborhood of

Like "in the vicinity of", this expresses an estimation around a certain value or place.

give or take

This phrase indicates an approximate amount with a margin of error.

distribute

Refers to the act of giving something to multiple people. This implies physically giving/"handing" things out.

disseminate

This is a formal term for spreading information or objects widely.

learn first hand

Emphasizes direct experience or acquisition of knowledge, similar to obtaining something directly via “hand”.

shake around

Focuses on the action of moving a hand to indicate dislodging something in a random manner.

wave about

Suggests moving a hand or object in a gesturing way.

FAQs

What does "hand about" mean?

The phrase "hand about" doesn't have a precise definition but is commonly used to describe an approximation or the act of waving or shaking something. The Ludwig AI recognizes it as incorrect.

How can I use "hand about" to describe an approximate size?

Instead of "hand about", you could say "approximately", "roughly", or "in the vicinity of". For example, "It was "approximately" six inches long" is clearer than "It was hand about six inches long".

What is a good alternative to "hand about" when talking about distributing items?

If you mean to distribute something, use "distribute", "pass around", or "circulate" instead. For example, "Please "distribute" these documents" is more accurate than "Please hand about these documents".

When is it appropriate to use "learn first hand about"?

While "learn first hand about" is acceptable, it's often more concise to say "learn first-hand about". For example, "I wanted to "learn first-hand about" the culture".