hand me something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hand me something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting someone to pass you an object or item, typically in a casual or informal context. Example: "Could you please hand me something to write with? I need to take notes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But every so often she'll hand me something she knows I'm going to love.

The New York Times - Books

"Increasingly, they are focused on filming me as they hand me something," Simson said.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Once at her place -- she lived alone -- she handed me something precious.

HuffPost

My toddler handed me something and in a creepy voice told me to drink it.

Huffington Post

My fist shakes at the universe for handing me something with an expiration date.

Huffington Post

"Check this out," he said, handing me something that looked like a hose.

Vice

"It was like someone handed me something that I could do something nice with," said Brooks Fisher, vice president of Learning and Development for Mountain View-Calif.-based Intuit.

Los Angeles Times

Very few snack times go by without my hearing "Here, Mommy!" as he hands me something from his plate -- or, at times, from his mouth.

Huffington Post

My mate Evan, with ten years of medical training under his belt, helped me fulfil both of these requirements when he handed me something at Notting Hill Carnival, and said "Trust me, I'm a doctor".

Vice

On return, Mum hands me something with a flourish.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I like to browse the bookshelves of charity shops in university towns, in case serendipity hands me something wonderful I had no idea I wanted.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be specific with the "something" to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Hand me the wrench" is better than just "Hand me something".

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "hand me something" in highly formal settings like business presentations or academic papers. Opt for more professional alternatives like "provide" or "supply" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hand me something" primarily functions as an imperative request. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a direct way to ask someone to give you an unspecified item. Examples show it used in everyday conversation and writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

HuffPost

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Vice

5%

The Guardian - Lifestyle

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hand me something" is a common and grammatically correct way to ask someone to pass you an item. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, and it appears across various contexts, from news articles to personal blogs. While primarily informal, its directness can be useful in various situations. When writing, consider the tone and context, and remember that in formal settings, alternative phrasings might be more appropriate. The alternatives include "pass me something", "give me something", and "bring me something".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass me something

A more direct and equally common alternative.

could you hand me something

A more polite phrasing of the request.

would you hand me something

An even more courteous alternative.

give me something

A very general way to ask for an object, slightly less specific.

can you give me something

More conversational, using "give" instead of "hand".

bring me something

Similar to "fetch", but focuses on the action of bringing.

fetch me something

Implies a longer distance or effort in retrieving the item.

may I have something

A very formal way to request something.

reach me something

Focuses on the act of reaching, implying it might be difficult.

transfer me something

Suggests a formal method of transferring the object.

FAQs

How to use "hand me something" in a sentence?

"Hand me something" is used to request someone to pass you an item. For example, "Could you "hand me something" to write with?".

What can I say instead of "hand me something"?

You can use alternatives like "pass me something", "give me something", or "bring me something" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hand me something" or "give me something"?

Both ""hand me something"" and "give me something" are correct, but ""hand me something"" specifically implies passing something by hand.

What's the difference between "hand me something" and "fetch me something"?

"Hand me something" implies a simple passing of an item, while "fetch me something" suggests a task that involves retrieving the item from somewhere else.