take in hand

verb

To take charge of, especially for purposes of discipline or improvement.

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Meanings

verbtake in hand (third-person singular simple present takes in hand, present participle taking in hand, simple past took in hand, past participle taken in hand)

present singular third person takes in hand · participle present taking in hand · past took in hand · participle past taken in hand

  1. UKTo take charge of, especially for purposes of discipline or improvement.

    But thinke not thou that takest in hand to striue against God, that thou shalt escape vnpunished.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Maccabees 7:19
    2 more examples

    Now I want you to take Vallett in hand and drill him stiff with everything that has to do with Tilehurst and Tapsfield.

    1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

    Unruly boys who will not grow up / Must be taken in hand / Unruly girls who will not settle down / They must be taken in hand

    1985, “Barbarism Begins At Home”, in Meat Is Murder, performed by The Smiths

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
set about

Origin

Possibly by analogy with a rider or stablehand taking the reins of a horse.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French prendre en main
  • prendre en mainto take charge
Welsh cymryd mewn llaw
  • cymryd mewn llawto take charge
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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