on someone's hands

Meanings

prepositional phrase

idiomaticBeing someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.
When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers […]
1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us
Antonyms: off someone's hands
idiomaticAvailable to be used by someone; in someone's possession.
I've got a lot of time on my hands.
1 more example
It is most curious to see that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to simply wander about this house bothering others […]
1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day
Synonyms: at someone's disposal

prepositional phraseBeing someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.

Opposite

prepositional phraseAvailable to be used by someone; in someone's possession.

Similar

Cite this entry

APA

on someone's hands. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20hands

MLA

“on someone's hands.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20hands. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on someone's hands,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20hands.