hand them over

USAGE SUMMARY

"hand them over" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to mean to surrender something, or to give something to someone else. For example: "I can't keep all these books, so please hand them over to someone else who could make better use of them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Will Damascus hand them over for questioning?

The Guardian

So you hand them over to a partnership — the S.P.E.

The New Yorker

"I'm not going to just hand them over," he said.

The New York Times

If the peacekeepers hand them over, their avowed mission to protect civilians could be fatally compromised.

The Economist

And if he were to surprise the world, and hand them over after all?

The Economist

We will find the perpetrators, hand them over to justice, and have them punished".

The New York Times

To her disgust, I always replied that I would hand them over at once.

The New York Times

"We look at them for a few minutes and then hand them over for recording".

The New Yorker

So should we ask our doctors for antibiotics, and should they hand them over?

The Guardian - Opinion

But Scotland Yard refused to hand them over, saying ownership was being contested.

The Guardian

Hand them over!" Marcus and KP and Elaine excitedly hand him their phones.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hand them over" when you want to emphasize the act of physically transferring something or someone to another party. It often implies a degree of reluctance or obligation.

Common error

Avoid using "hand them over" when a more neutral term like "transfer" or "deliver" is more appropriate, especially in formal business or academic contexts where the slightly informal connotation of "hand over" might be unsuitable.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hand them over" is that of a phrasal verb, acting as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("them"). Ludwig AI confirms its proper use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

17%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hand them over" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrasal verb with a neutral register. It signifies the transfer of items or individuals, often implying obligation or a lack of willingness. As noted by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. While suitable for many situations, more formal alternatives such as "transfer them" or "deliver them" may be preferable in academic or business writing. Remembering to avoid overly informal connotations in formal contexts ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turn them in

Emphasizes reporting or surrendering someone/something to authorities.

surrender them

Implies yielding or giving up something, often under pressure.

give them up

Suggests relinquishing something, often unwillingly.

transfer them

A more formal term for moving something from one entity to another.

deliver them

Implies transporting and presenting something to someone.

relinquish them

A formal term meaning to voluntarily give up something.

cede them

Suggests formally surrendering possession or territory.

yield them

Similar to surrender, but can also mean to produce or provide.

pass them on

Suggests giving something to someone else, often after using it yourself.

return them

Indicates giving something back to its original owner.

FAQs

How can I use "hand them over" in a sentence?

You can use "hand them over" when you want to express the act of giving something to someone else or surrendering something. For example, "The police asked the suspect to hand over the weapon".

What are some alternatives to "hand them over"?

Alternatives include "turn them in", "surrender them", or "give them up", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hand them over" formal or informal?

"Hand them over" leans towards the informal side, suitable for everyday conversation and news reports. For business letters or scientific papers, you might prefer more formal alternatives like "transfer them" or "deliver them".

What is the difference between "hand them over" and "give them away"?

"Hand them over" implies a direct transfer to a specific party, often under some obligation or pressure. "Give them away", on the other hand, suggests a more general and voluntary act of distributing items freely.