wide hands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wide hands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe hands that are broad or have a large span, often in contexts related to physical characteristics or abilities. Example: "He was known for his wide hands, which made him an excellent pianist."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

Vice

Huffington Post

The Guardian

The New York Times

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

BMJ Open

Clinical Infectious Diseases

BMC Infectious Diseases

BMC Geriatrics

WikiHow

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The animals may have been able to move on all fours, given its fairly long arms and wide hands, but this idea has not been widely discussed in the scientific literature, although it does appear in popular works.

Wikipedia

Clinical features of the disorder include short stature, smallness of the head, obliquely slanted eyes, a flattened face, wide hands with a single transverse palmar crease, short digits, and weak muscles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It had sturdy hind limbs, small wide hands, and a head with an elongate pointed snout.

Wikipedia

But he's jealous, imagining these he-men flexing in their toothpaste-stained bathroom mirrors, running their wide hands over there undulating abs right before they take a #fitlife photo for Instagram.

Vice

But he's jealous, imagining these he-men flexing in their toothpaste-stained bathroom mirrors, running their wide hands over their undulating abs right before they take a #fitlife photo for Instagram.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

His early interviews as CEO, viewable on YouTube, show an awkward young man, wide-eyed, hands flailing, who scarcely can believe his and his cofounders' good fortune.

Huffington Post

"Use wide hand gestures and make eye contact with all.

The Guardian

Robson goes high and wide, handing the Czech two break-back points.

The Guardian - Sport

I told one I found Etan, grabbed his fat wide hand and led him home.

The New York Times - Magazine

One flight up, the master bedroom has wide, hand-cut pine floorboards and partially exposed beams.

The New York Times

The first putt took him to within 3ft, but the second effort was pushed wide, handing the American an early lead.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wide hands" to specifically describe the breadth of someone's hands, especially when this physical characteristic is relevant to the context, such as in descriptions of physical abilities or features.

Common error

Avoid using "wide hands" metaphorically when describing abstract concepts like influence or reach. It's more appropriate for physical descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wide hands" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies the noun "hands" with the adjective "wide", specifying a particular characteristic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and descriptive way to describe hands.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wide hands" is a grammatically correct descriptive term denoting hands that are broad or have a significant span. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English to describe the breadth of hands, particularly in contexts related to physical traits or skills. Though less frequent in general usage, "wide hands" appears across various domains, including news, science, and encyclopedias, but it's most common in news and media. Ludwig examples suggest its application in describing physical attributes, capabilities, and even potential medical conditions. For alternative phrasings, "broad hands" or "large hands" can be considered depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broad hands

Replaces "wide" with "broad", maintaining a similar meaning of breadth.

hands with a wide span

Rephrases to focus on the distance between the edges of the hands.

large hands

Uses "large" as a more general term for size instead of specifically width.

hands with broad palms

Similar to 'broad-palmed hands', emphasizing the palm's width.

broad-palmed hands

Specifically refers to the width of the palm.

spacious hands

Implies hands with a lot of surface area.

ample hands

Suggests hands that are generously sized.

outspread hands

Describes hands that are extended or opened wide.

splayed hands

Implies hands with fingers spread far apart, emphasizing width.

expansive hands

Indicates hands that cover a large area when open.

FAQs

How can I describe hands that are large in all dimensions, not just width?

For hands large in all dimensions, consider using the phrase "large hands" or "big hands" which are more general terms for overall size.

When is it appropriate to use "wide hands" in a description?

It's appropriate when the width of the hands is a significant or relevant detail, such as describing a pianist's hands or physical characteristics in a medical context.

What is a more technical or clinical term for "wide hands"?

There isn't a single, universally recognized clinical term for "wide hands". In a medical context, descriptions would focus on specific measurements or proportions, rather than a general term.

Are there any negative connotations associated with the term "wide hands"?

No, the term "wide hands" typically does not carry any negative connotations. It is a descriptive term and is generally neutral in tone.