hands of bananas

USAGE SUMMARY

"hands of bananas" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write: "The farmer brought us a few hands of bananas from his plantation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The team had brought two large hands of bananas and set them down near a fallen log.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What is the sound of one hand of bananas clapping?

The New York Times

I think that bananas are mushy, but I take her to buy a hand of bananas for 25 cents".

The New York Times

There's still the slight chance that one might be hidden away in a hand of bananas and get through.

The Guardian

But for real white-knuckle horror in Latin America, you need look no further than a hand of bananas, or so says Peter Chapman.

The Guardian - Books

When the tram driver reaches the packing plant, workers begin removing the plastic bags and foam inserts placed inside each bunch to protect individual "hands" (clusters of bananas) from damage.

Environmental Health Perspectives

In one excruciating scene, he has to sing in a reedy alto, holding his hands like bunches of bananas.

The Guardian - Film

After harvest, internal fruit of the median hand of all banana bunches, considered to be comparable (Liu 1976), were pooled and kept for 24 h at 20 °C in chambers.

AoB PLANTS

It would be the American equivalent of handing someone a bunch of bananas as a wedding gift.

The New York Times - Travel

Make sure you have a pack of bananas to hand.

The Guardian - Tech

Meanwhile, for anyone nostalgic for the days of raiding the pick and mix in Woolies, or rifling through records in HMV, the best remedy is to get out and show your high street some love, by nipping around the corner for a second-hand book or a bunch of bananas.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the quantity of bananas, use "hands of bananas" to refer to the clusters that grow together on a banana plant. For example, "The grocer displayed several hands of bananas prominently."

Common error

Avoid using "hands of bananas" when you simply mean a random assortment of bananas. "Hands" specifically refers to the way bananas grow in connected clusters on the plant, not just a collection of individual bananas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hands of bananas" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying a specific grouping of bananas as they grow on the plant. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is acceptable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hands of bananas" is a grammatically correct and common noun phrase used to describe the cluster of bananas as they grow on a plant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is acceptable for use in written English. Predominantly found in news, science, and wiki sources, its register remains neutral, making it versatile across different contexts. While alternatives such as "bunches of bananas" and "clusters of bananas" exist, it’s crucial to use "hands of bananas" specifically when referring to the natural arrangement of bananas, avoiding misuse for general banana collections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bunches of bananas

Replaces "hands" with "bunches", emphasizing the collective nature of the bananas.

clusters of bananas

Substitutes "hands" with "clusters", highlighting the grouping of bananas.

banana clusters

A more concise term focusing on the arrangement of bananas in clusters.

banana bunches

A shorter version emphasizing the collective quantity of bananas.

groups of bananas

Using a general term "groups" instead of the more specific "hands".

stems of bananas

Focuses on the connecting stems of bananas, if they are still connected.

piles of bananas

Describes a less organized arrangement of bananas.

supply of bananas

Emphasizes the quantity and availability of bananas.

assortment of bananas

Suggests a variety of different types of bananas.

collection of bananas

Implies a curated or gathered set of bananas.

FAQs

How can I properly use "hands of bananas" in a sentence?

Use "hands of bananas" to describe the natural cluster in which bananas grow on a plant. For example: "The farmer harvested several "hands of bananas" from his plantation."

What is the difference between "hands of bananas" and "bunch of bananas"?

"Hands of bananas" refers to the connected clusters as they grow, while "bunch of bananas" is a more general term that can describe any collection of bananas, whether they are still connected or not.

What can I say instead of "hands of bananas"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "bunches of bananas" or "clusters of bananas" to describe the grouping.

Is it correct to say "hand of bananas" instead of "hands of bananas"?

While "hand of bananas" might be understood, ""hands of bananas"" is more accurate since it usually refers to multiple clusters on a single stem.