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SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

At Hand

How to use "at hand", "in hand", "on hand", and "to hand"? Dictionaries suggest that are all the same.

"There is help at/in/on/to hand."
"There is enough food at/in/on/to hand to last a week"
"There are four attendants at/in/on/to hand."
"They finally have the situation at/in/on/to hand."
"He took the mischievous child at/in/on/to hand."
"We should first deal with the issues at/in/on/to hand."

What do native speakers think?
  

Top answer

Hi, Sometimes, there is no real difference intended. But here are a few quick thoughts about these phrases. at hand Means that something is close to me, is available to me.

— Clive

  • Hi, Sometimes, there is no real difference intended.
  • But here are a few quick thoughts about these phrases.
  • at hand Means that something is close to me, is available to me.
  • Can also mean that something is about to happen.
  • in hand Means something is in my hand.
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1 Answers
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Hi,

Sometimes, there is no real difference intended.
But here are a few quick thoughts about these phrases.

at hand Means that something is close to me, is available to me. Can also mean that something is about to happen.
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