handle it later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "handle it later" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that a task or issue will be addressed at a future time rather than immediately. Example: "I have too much on my plate right now, so I'll just handle it later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I'll tell you how to handle it later," says a smiling adjunct professor in her 40's.

Huffington Post

If it requires more time, I put that task on my to-do list and handle it later.

Huffington Post

"It was great to get pushed because if you don't get into those late-game situations, you don't know how to handle it later on in the season," Olson said after the Wildcats improved their record to 18-1 overand and 8-0 in the conference.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But now they can see his first collection of photographs when Parts & Labor Books publishes "The Land Can Handle It" later this week.

The New York Times

We did everything we could for the time being but will have to handle it when we get back later today after our final scuba diving class.

Huffington Post

And if it's not something that goes in the contract, your agent or attorney should be able to help you handle it if it comes up later.

Huffington Post

But I also think they will not resist the temptation to take the Proposition 8 case, even though they may later agree to handle it narrowly.

The New Yorker

We took a break, and I called my uncle at the hospital, and he told me, 'Come down here,' so I went back to the meeting and I said, 'Whatever you're going to decide, you decide, but I have to go and be with my mother.' From the way I handled it, I learned later that they thought that this was a sign that I was mature enough to handle whatever would come my way from the school".

The New Yorker

"I'm a little disappointed in the way I handled it". About an hour later, though, Uhlaender met up with her father and he told her he was proud of her.

The New York Times - Sports

Days later, the board apologised to Taylor for the way the affair was handled, while it later emerged that bowling coach Bond wrote a letter supporting Taylor's version of events. .

BBC

Eccleston later said, "They handled it very badly, but they issued an apology and I dropped it" in an 2010 interview.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "handle it later" when you need to prioritize tasks and address less urgent matters at a more convenient time. This helps in managing workload effectively and avoiding immediate distractions.

Common error

Avoid using "handle it later" as a constant excuse for procrastination. Ensure that deferred tasks are genuinely less critical and are scheduled for a specific time to prevent them from being forgotten or neglected indefinitely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "handle it later" functions as a colloquial expression used to indicate the postponement of a task or issue. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, suggesting it's suitable for everyday communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "handle it later" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that serves to postpone action on a specific task or issue, as confirmed by Ludwig. While it is generally acceptable in various contexts, including news, academia, and general communication, it tends to lean towards a neutral to informal register. For more formal or professional settings, alternatives like "address it later" or "attend to it later" are more suitable. Although the phrase is not very common, being found rarely in the analyzed content, its straightforward meaning and widespread understanding make it a valuable tool for managing priorities and setting boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deal with it later

Uses "deal with" instead of "handle", offering a slightly more informal tone.

address it later

Replaces "handle" with "address", suggesting a more formal or direct approach to the postponed action.

take care of it later

Substitutes "handle" with "take care of", implying a sense of responsibility and attention.

attend to it later

Uses "attend to" instead of "handle", conveying a sense of duty and care in addressing the matter.

sort it out later

Replaces "handle" with "sort out", suggesting a need to resolve or clarify something.

put it off for now

Indicates a temporary postponement without explicitly mentioning a future action.

defer it to a later time

Emphasizes the act of formally delaying something to a specified future point.

postpone it for now

Focuses on the act of delaying, suggesting a temporary suspension of action.

shelve it for the moment

Implies putting something aside temporarily, often with the intention of revisiting it later.

table it for now

Suggests setting aside a discussion or decision for a later meeting or consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "handle it later" in a sentence?

You can use "handle it later" to indicate that you will address a task or issue at a future time. For instance, "I'm busy with this project right now, but I'll "handle it later"."

What is a more formal way to say "handle it later"?

A more formal alternative to "handle it later" is to say "address it later" or "attend to it later", which implies a more deliberate and responsible approach to the delayed task.

Is it acceptable to use "handle it later" in professional communication?

Yes, "handle it later" is acceptable in professional communication, particularly in internal communications or informal settings. However, for external communications or more formal contexts, phrases like "address it later" or "will review it later" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "handle it later" and "deal with it later"?

The phrases "handle it later" and "deal with it later" are very similar in meaning. "Deal with it later" might be perceived as slightly more informal, while "handle it later" can be used in both informal and semi-formal contexts.