hand|writing /hæ ndra I t I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] Your handwriting is your style of writing with a pen or pencil. □ The address was in Anna's handwriting.
hand|written /hæ ndr I t ə n/ ADJ A piece of writing that is handwritten is one that someone has written using a pen or pencil rather than by typing it.
handy /hæ ndi/ (handier , handiest )
1 ADJ Something that is handy is useful. □ Credit cards can be handy–they mean you do not have to carry large sums of cash.
2 PHRASE If something comes in handy , it is useful in a particular situation. □ The $20 check came in very handy.
3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A thing or place that is handy is nearby and therefore easy to get or reach. □ It would be good to have a pencil and paper handy.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ with n] Someone who is handy with a particular tool is skilful at using it. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ with ] If you're handy with a needle you could brighten up your sweater with giant daisies.
handy|man /hæ ndimæn/ (handymen ) N‑COUNT A handyman is a man who earns money by doing small jobs for people such as making and repairing things in their houses. You can also describe a man who is good at making or repairing things in his home as a handyman .
hang ◆◆◇ /hæ ŋ/ (hangs , hanging , hung , hanged ) The form hung is used as the past tense and past participle. The form hanged is used as the past tense and past participle for meaning 5 . 1 VERB If something hangs in a high place or position, or if you hang it there, it is attached there so it does not touch the ground. □ [V prep/adv] Notices painted on sheets hang at every entrance. □ [V -ing] …small hanging lanterns. □ [V n prep/adv] They saw a young woman come out of the house to hang clothes on a line. [Also V n, V ] ● PHRASAL VERB Hang up means the same as hang . □ [V P ] I found his jacket, which was hanging up in the hallway. □ [V P n] Some prisoners climbed onto the roof and hung up a banner. [Also V n P ]
2 VERB If a piece of clothing or fabric hangs in a particular way or position, that is how it is worn or arranged. □ [V adv/prep] …a ragged fur coat that hung down to her calves.
3 VERB If something hangs loose or hangs open, it is partly fixed in position, but is not firmly held, supported, or controlled, often in such a way that it moves freely. □ [V adj] …her long golden hair which hung loose about her shoulders.
4 VERB [usu passive] If something such as a wall is hung with pictures or other objects, they are attached to it. □ [be V -ed + with ] The walls were hung with huge modern paintings.
5 VERB If someone is hanged or if they hang , they are killed, usually as a punishment, by having a rope tied around their neck and the support taken away from under their feet. □ [be V -ed] The five were expected to be hanged at 7 am on Tuesday. □ [V ] It is right that their murderers should hang. □ [V pron-refl] He hanged himself two hours after arriving at a mental hospital. [Also V n] ● hang|ing (hangings ) N‑VAR □ Four steamboat loads of spectators came to view a hanging in New Orleans.
6 VERB If something such as someone's breath or smoke hangs in the air, it remains there without appearing to move or change position. □ [V prep/adv] His breath was hanging in the air before him.
7 VERB If a possibility hangs over you, it worries you and makes your life unpleasant or difficult because you think it might happen. □ [V + over ] A constant threat of unemployment hangs over thousands of university researchers.
8 → see also hanging , hung
9 PHRASE If you get the hang of something such as a skill or activity, you begin to understand or realize how to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ It's a bit tricky at first till you get the hang of it.
10 PHRASE If you tell someone to hang in there or to hang on in there , you are encouraging them to keep trying to do something and not to give up even though it might be difficult. [INFORMAL ] □ Hang in there and you never know what you might achieve.
11 to hang by a thread → see thread
▸ hang around in BRIT, also use hang about , hang round 1 PHRASAL VERB If you hang around , hang about , or hang round , you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P v-ing] He got sick of hanging around waiting for me. □ [V P ] On Saturdays we hang about in the park. □ [V P n] …those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you hang around , hang about , or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P together ] They usually hung around together most of the time. □ [V P + with ] Helen used to hang round with the boys. □ [V P n] …the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out.
▸ hang back
1 PHRASAL VERB If you hang back , you move or stay slightly behind a person or group, usually because you are nervous about something. □ [V P ] I saw him step forward momentarily but then hang back, nervously massaging his hands.
2 PHRASAL VERB If a person or organization hangs back , they do not do something immediately. □ [V P + on ] They will then hang back on closing the deal. □ [V P ] Even his closest advisers believe he should hang back no longer.