lent a hand

USAGE SUMMARY

'lent a hand' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone who provided help or assistance to another person or group of people. Example sentence: My neighbor lent a hand when I was painting my house.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lorenzo lent a hand.

The New Yorker

Even Iran lent a hand.

The New Yorker

Her daughter, Chelsea, lent a hand.

The New York Times

Shanghai conservatory students lent a hand.

The New York Times - Arts

Pop culture has clearly lent a hand.

The New York Times

His father and two sons lent a hand.

The New York Times

Chefs even lent a hand to would-be competitors.

The New York Times - Food

And other institutions have lent a hand in the recovery.

The New York Times - Arts

His father lent a hand with some of the writing.

Independent

Mrs. Jane Forsyth lent a hand as a substitute handler.

The New York Times

The uncertainties of international politics have also lent a hand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lent a hand", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the help and who received it. This avoids ambiguity and makes the sentence more informative.

Common error

Avoid using "lent a hand" when the assistance provided was substantial or involved significant effort. More impactful verbs like "spearheaded" or "transformed" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lent a hand" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of providing assistance or help. It indicates that someone has offered or given their support to someone else, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lent a hand" is a very common verb phrase used to describe the act of providing assistance, as affirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, including news, business, and academic writing. The phrase is typically neutral in register and effectively conveys the idea of offering help or support. When using "lent a hand", ensure the context clearly identifies who provided the help and to whom. Consider alternatives like "offered assistance" or "provided support" for more formal settings, or "helped out" for informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended a helping hand

More descriptive and emphasizes the act of offering help.

offered assistance

Replaces the idiom with a more formal and direct expression of providing help.

provided support

Focuses on the act of giving support, which can be emotional, practical, or financial.

gave help

A simpler, more direct way to express providing assistance.

assisted

A concise and formal verb that means to help someone.

aided

Similar to assisted but can imply a stronger or more significant level of help.

pitched in

An informal phrase suggesting joining in to help with a task or effort.

helped out

A common, versatile phrase for providing assistance, suitable for many contexts.

did someone a favor

Suggests performing a specific act of kindness or assistance.

gave a boost

Implies providing encouragement or a push forward, in addition to or instead of direct assistance.

FAQs

How can I use "lent a hand" in a sentence?

You can use "lent a hand" to describe someone who has offered assistance. For instance, "My neighbor "lent a hand" when I was moving furniture".

What are some alternatives to saying "lent a hand"?

You can use alternatives like "offered assistance", "provided support", or "helped out" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "lend a hand" or "lent a hand"?

"Lend a hand" is the present tense or infinitive form, while ""lent a hand"" is the past tense. Use "lent" when referring to past actions.

What's the difference between "lent a hand" and "gave a hand"?

While similar, ""lent a hand"" is the more common and idiomatic expression. "Gave a hand" is less frequently used but still conveys the same meaning of providing assistance.