keen to lend a hand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keen to lend a hand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a willingness to help or assist someone with a task or situation. Example: "She is always keen to lend a hand whenever her friends are in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She said that when the real field-work gets underway--next March is the anticipated launch date--she would be keen to lend a hand: "this has the potential to be a hugely important project," Hughson said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The request to use the stake out was made through the US mission at the UN which suggests the Obama administration was keen to lend a helping hand.

BBC

We relied a great deal on the charity and good-will of other Soviet Jewish refugees who had arrived in Australia years earlier and were now sufficiently established to lend a hand to new arrivals; keen to offer measured words of advice or unwanted pieces of furniture, the latter generally more useful than the former.

The Guardian - Opinion

All promised to lend a hand.

The Guardian - Travel

Lots of shouting now, people vying to lend a hand.

The New Yorker

Eventually the army agreed to lend a hand.

The Guardian

Mr. Bolton did not have a key either, but offered to lend a hand, or card.

The New York Times

Thousands of volunteers converged on Sichuan to lend a hand to the rescue.

The Economist

Rabbi Steinsaltz began the task alone, but later found people "willing to lend a hand".

The New York Times

An unwitting White House was even roped in to lend a hand.

The Economist

He was very appreciative, and I was glad to lend a hand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen to lend a hand" when you want to express enthusiasm and willingness to provide assistance in a task or project. It conveys a proactive and positive attitude.

Common error

Avoid using "keen to lend a hand" in highly formal contexts, such as legal documents or official reports. While acceptable in many situations, it may sound slightly informal compared to phrases like "offer assistance" or "provide support".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen to lend a hand" functions as a verb phrase expressing willingness or eagerness to help. It describes someone's readiness to assist, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples, where individuals and organizations are described as willing to offer their services.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keen to lend a hand" is a useful verb phrase to express a willingness to help, suitable for various contexts except perhaps the most formal ones. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, business and general writing. While alternatives like "eager to assist" or "willing to help" can be used, "keen to lend a hand" is a more nuanced and positive expression of support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend a helping hand

More idiomatic and emphasizes the act of offering aid.

eager to assist

Replaces "keen" with "eager", conveying a more enthusiastic willingness to help.

willing to help

Simplifies the phrase by using "willing" instead of "keen", making it more straightforward.

ready to assist

Emphasizes preparedness to help, rather than enthusiasm.

happy to help

Conveys a sense of pleasure in offering assistance.

glad to be of assistance

More formal and polite way of offering help.

offer assistance

A more direct and formal way to express a willingness to help.

provide support

Focuses on the act of supporting someone, rather than just helping.

be of service

A very formal way of offering help, often used in customer service contexts.

step in to help

Implies taking action to assist in a specific situation.

FAQs

How can I use "keen to lend a hand" in a sentence?

You can use "keen to lend a hand" to indicate someone's willingness to help. For example: "She is always "keen to lend a hand" whenever her friends are in need."

What's a more formal alternative to "keen to lend a hand"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, you could say "offer assistance" or "provide support". These phrases are suitable for professional or official settings.

Is it correct to say "keen on lending a hand"?

While grammatically correct, "keen to lend a hand" is more common and idiomatic. "Keen on lending a hand" is less frequently used.

What does it mean to "extend a helping hand"?

The phrase "extend a helping hand" is similar to "keen to lend a hand". Both phrases mean to offer assistance or support to someone in need.