hand in hand

/ˌhændɪnˈhænd/

adverb

Holding or clasping hands.

“The couple strolled down the sidewalk, hand in hand.”

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Meanings

adverbhand in hand (not comparable)

alternative hand-in-hand

  1. not comparableHolding or clasping hands.

    The couple strolled down the sidewalk, hand in hand.

  2. figurativelynot comparableNaturally, ordinarily or predictably together; commonly having a correlation or relationship.

    The tendency to follow trends and explore one's sense of self goes hand in hand with being a teenager.

    1 more example

    Owing to sensitivities about the force's capabilities, Russell is unable to say how many drones BTP has, or where and when they operate. But he does confide that the force works hand in hand with the helicopter service, and its ability to deploy drones is getting quicker.

    2022 February 9, Tom Allett, “The BTP's eyes and ears in the air”, in RAIL, number 950, page 50
  3. not comparableobsoleteJust; fair; equitable.

    As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison.

    1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]

Origin

Dates back at least to Old English hand on handa, of the same meaning.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan de la mà
  • de la màholding or clasping hands
Chinese Mandarin 手拉手地, 攜手地 /携手地
  • 手拉手地 (shǒu lāshǒu de)holding or clasping hands
  • 攜手地 /携手地 (xiéshǒu de, xīshǒu de)holding or clasping hands
Dutch hand in hand
  • hand in handholding or clasping hands
Esperanto man-en-mane
  • man-en-maneholding or clasping hands
Finnish käsi kädessä, käsikkäin
  • käsi kädessäholding or clasping hands
  • käsikkäinholding or clasping hands
  • käsi kädessänaturally together
  • kuuluanaturally together
French main dans la main
  • main dans la mainholding or clasping hands
German Hand in Hand, Hand in Hand
  • Hand in Handholding or clasping hands
  • Hand in Handnaturally together
Greek χέρι-χέρι, χέρι-χέρι
  • χέρι-χέρι (chéri-chéri)holding or clasping hands
  • χέρι-χέρι (chéri-chéri)naturally together
Hungarian kéz a kézben, kézen fogva
  • kéz a kézbenholding or clasping hands
  • kézen fogvaholding or clasping hands
Italian a mani giunte, mano nella mano
  • a mani giunteholding or clasping hands
  • mano nella manoholding or clasping hands
  • mano nella manonaturally together
Japanese 手をつないで
  • 手をつないで (te o tsunaide)holding or clasping hands
Latin manibus nexis
  • manibus nexisholding or clasping hands
Polish ręka w rękę, ręka w rękę
  • ręka w rękęholding or clasping hands
  • ręka w rękęnaturally together
Portuguese de mãos dadas
  • de mãos dadasholding or clasping hands
Russian рука́ о́б ру́ку, вместе
  • рука́ о́б ру́ку (ruká ób rúku)holding or clasping hands
  • вместе (vmeste)naturally together
  • сообща (soobšča)naturally together
  • в тесном взаимодействии / связи (v tesnom vzaimodejstvii / svjazi)naturally together
  • рука́ о́б ру́ку (ruká ób rúku)naturally together
Spanish de la mano
  • de la manoholding or clasping hands
Turkish el ele
  • el eleholding or clasping hands
Ukrainian пліч-о-пліч, рука́ в ру́ку
  • пліч-о-пліч (plič-o-plič)holding or clasping hands
  • рука́ в ру́ку (ruká v rúku)naturally together
Cite this entry
APA

hand in hand. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hand%20in%20hand

MLA

“hand in hand.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hand%20in%20hand. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hand in hand,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hand%20in%20hand.

Source: hand in hand on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.