on someone's hands

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English

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian); on one's hands:(file)

Prepositional phrase

on someone's hands

  1. (idiomatic) Being someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.
    Antonym: off someone's hands
    • 1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us:
      When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers []
  2. (idiomatic) Available to be used by someone; in someone's possession.
    Synonym: at someone's disposal
    I've got a lot of time on my hands.
    • 1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day:
      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 []

See also