third hand

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See also: thirdhand

English

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Noun

third hand (plural third hands)

  1. A tool used to squeeze caliper brakes against the rim of a wheel, as on a bicycle, thereby allowing adjustments to the brake cable.
  2. A source two steps removed from direct communication.

Adjective

third hand

  1. Having been relayed by two intermediate sources.
    I heard the story from someone who got it from the horse's mouth. You're getting it third hand.
    • 2010, BioWare, quoting Mom, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: You're alive???:
      So I have to find out my child is alive third-hand from the Alliance brass? Where the hell have you been?
  2. (idiomatic) Not new, having more than one previous owner.

See also