handle them over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "handle them over" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "hand them over." You can use it when you want to instruct someone to give something to another person, typically in a context of transfer or surrender.
Example: "Please hand them over to the authorities as soon as possible."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although Schur said the writing staff had a general idea of where the newly introduced storylines should go, the exact stories had not been completely worked out yet and the writers would be brainstorming how to handle them over the summer.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Making it easier for stores without credit card processing equipment to participate in cashless transactions by handling them over cell phones.

Forbes

Fold the handles them over and tuck one end into the triangle you have formed.

WikiHow

The hurdle model was chosen due to its ability to handle the over-dispersion of zeros.

BMC Infectious Diseases

That exchange does not handle over-the-counter equity derivatives.

The Economist

However, it did not handle over- and under-provisioning issues while allocating portion of data budgets.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As of 2007, Interstate 35 alone was handling over 99,000 vehicles per day.

Wikipedia

They wanted to emulate how that 1950 film handled voice-over narration.

The New York Times

Refrain from twisting your spine while handling an over-heavy burden.

WikiHow

It also put the prize money amassed this season by all the horses of Odgen Phipps and the Wheatley Stable, all of them handled by Eddie Neloy, over the two-million mark - a sum that has not been approached by any other trainer.

The New Yorker

But the talks broke down, they said, over how to handle disputes over work rules, including shift lengths and overtime.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey the action of physically passing something to someone, it's better to use "hand them over" instead of "handle them over".

Common error

Avoid using "handle them over" when the intended meaning is to physically transfer something. "Handle" implies managing or dealing with something, not the act of passing it to someone else. Opt for "hand them over" to indicate the physical transfer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "handle them over" functions as a verb phrase, though according to Ludwig AI, it is not correct in standard English. The intended use often involves physical transfer or management of items.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "handle them over" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct expression is "hand them over", especially when intending to convey the physical transfer of items. While some sources, including news and media outlets, use the phrase, it's best to avoid it in formal contexts. When you mean the physical act of passing something over, instead use "hand them over". Alternatives such as "transfer them" or "deliver them" might be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hand them over

Replaces "handle" with "hand", indicating a direct physical transfer.

transfer them

Focuses on the act of moving items from one place or person to another.

pass them over

Similar to handing over, suggesting a simple transfer of items.

deliver them

Emphasizes the action of bringing items to a specific destination.

turn them over

Suggests giving control or responsibility of the items to someone else.

administer them

Focuses on the management and distribution of items.

manage them

Highlights the process of overseeing and controlling the items.

process them

Refers to handling items in a systematic and procedural manner.

deal with them

Indicates addressing or resolving issues related to the items.

take care of them

Emphasizes the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the items.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate phrase than "handle them over"?

A more appropriate phrase is "hand them over", which means to physically transfer something to someone.

In what context can I use "handle"?

You can use "handle" when referring to managing, dealing with, or processing something. For example, "The company can "handle over" 150 different currencies."

How do I correctly use "hand over" in a sentence?

Use "hand over" when you want to instruct someone to give something to another person, typically in a context of transfer or surrender. Example: "Please hand them over to the authorities as soon as possible."

What can I say instead of "handle them over" to convey a different meaning?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "transfer them", "deliver them", or "manage them".