| Idiom | Meaning | Example | 
| hands are tied | 
be unable to act because others are in control, out of our hands
 | 
I'm in favor of public health care but my hands are tied. I have to wait for a government decision.
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| hands down | 
easily, no contest
 | 
The captain of the team said, "We won hands down - 6 to 1."
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| hands on | 
practice doing a task by working with your hands
 | 
In shop class, we get hands-on experience in car maintenance.
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| hands up | 
put your hands above your head, reach for the sky
 | 
"Hands up, everybody!" the thief shouted as he entered the bank.
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| hang around | 
stay near, be with, hang out
 | 
Don't hang around with that  gang. They steal cars.
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| hang in there | 
continue, persevere, be patient, keep on
 | 
Hang in there until the doctor comes. He'll relieve your pain.
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| hang loose | 
be calm, relax, do not be uptight
 | 
In Hawaii, they tell the tourists to hang loose - to relax.
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| hang on | 
wait, hold on
 | 
Hang on a second. I have one more question to do.
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| hang on every word | 
listen carefully to every word that is said
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When Mr. Frye spoke, we would hang on every word. We listened.
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| hang on like grim death | 
be determined or resolute, not quit
 | 
In the presidential election, Gore was hanging on like grim death.
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