hand out

To give things to several people, usually one to each person.

• Please hand out these papers.
• Volunteers handed out food at the station.
• Who will hand the prizes out?

How to use it: hand something out to someone (They handed blankets out to the families.); hand it out (There is enough food to hand it out to everyone.)

Similar words: give out, distribute, pass out

Opposites: collect

Common phrases: hand out leaflets, hand out something

To support someone by the hand as they leave a vehicle.

• He handed her out of the carriage.
• The driver politely handed the elderly passenger out.
• She waited for someone to hand her out of the coach.

How to use it: hand someone out of something (He handed her out of the carriage.)

Similar words: help out, assist out

Common phrases: hand someone out, hand out a passenger

To try to impress someone with false stories or claims.

• He tried to hand us out with grand claims.
• She handed the guests out with tales of famous friends.
• They hoped to hand him out by boasting about imaginary victories.

How to use it: hand someone out (He tried to hand the visitors out with stories of his wealth.)

Similar words: bluff, hoodwink

Common phrases: hand someone out, hand out someone

An announcement that a player is out of the game or has lost the right to serve.

• The referee called, “Hand out!”
• After the lost rally, the umpire announced, “Hand out!”
• She heard “Hand out” and prepared to serve.

Common phrases: hand out, hand out again