hand me up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hand me up" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may cause confusion. A more appropriate phrase would be "hand it up" or "pass it up." Example: "Could you hand me up that book from the top shelf?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Children will always get the "hand me downs" but if we can demonstrate success in the creation of drugs that help children but also help larger adult populations, we can provide adults with "hand me ups".

Huffington Post

"A hand-me-down or hand-me up".

The New Yorker

The hand-me-up fightback starts right here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Interesting to hear of hand-me-up electronics.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the hand-me-up front, it's good that British parents are up for a bit of techno-recycling.

The Guardian - Opinion

A survey revealed that a third of British mothers are using their kids' old mobiles, while six in 10 parents have hand-me-up tablets.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was by Thom Browne, the American designer who, a few years ago, introduced an influential line of suits whose skinny trousers and sleeves were cropped so short that the wearer appeared to be dressed in a hand-me-up.

The New Yorker

Win looks down at the soggy shoes he bought for $22 at the vintage-clothing shop called Hand-Me-Ups.

The New York Times

Sitting in his office in early November, he handed me a marked-up copy and shook his head.

The New Yorker

When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale.

The New York Times - Magazine

Adnan came up and handed me one of the small clay tablets of Karbala clay: "Something to remember this place".

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you want someone to pass you an object that is above you, say "hand it up to me" or "pass it up to me".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "hand me up" in formal writing. This phrase can be confusing, as it's not a standard English expression. Instead, opt for clearer and more precise language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hand me up" functions as a request, either for assistance in moving upwards or for an object to be passed upwards. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. Some example from the sources, demonstrate the intended meaning even though they might not be standard.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Wiki

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hand me up" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies it as such, advising against its use in formal writing. While some sources include the expression, it is infrequent and potentially ambiguous. For clearer communication, it is better to use alternative phrases such as "help me up", "give me a hand up", or "hand it up to me", depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass me up

Changes "hand" to "pass", implying a transfer upwards. It maintains the direction but corrects the verb.

hand it up to me

Adds "it" to clarify the object being handed, making the phrase grammatically sound. It is a more specific request.

give me a lift

Replaces the action with a request for physical assistance. The focus shifts to helping someone move upwards.

help me up

Focuses on providing assistance to stand or climb. It's about aiding someone in rising.

boost me up

Implies a quick upward push or lift. It's more forceful than simply helping someone up.

raise me up

Suggests lifting someone to a higher position, often metaphorically. It's a broader term than just a physical lift.

pass it over

Implies passing an object horizontally. It does not specify an upward movement.

toss it up

Suggests a casual throw upwards. It doesn't necessarily involve handing something directly.

throw it to me

Indicates throwing an object in someone's direction. It doesn't specify the direction as upwards.

send it up

Suggests sending something upwards through a system or mechanism. It lacks the personal element of handing.

FAQs

What does "hand me up" mean?

The phrase "hand me up" is not a standard English expression and can be ambiguous. It may be interpreted as a request to be helped up or to have something passed upwards.

What can I say instead of "hand me up" if I need assistance?

You can use alternatives like "help me up" or "give me a hand up" to clearly express your need for assistance.

How do I ask for an object to be passed upwards instead of saying "hand me up"?

Instead of "hand me up", you can say "hand it up to me" or "pass it up to me" to make your request clear.

Is "hand me up" grammatically correct?

No, "hand me up" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It is better to use phrases like "help me up" or "hand it up to me" instead.