Phrase guide

lend a hand

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To help or assist, especially voluntarily.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If we all lend a hand, the work will go quickly.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مد يد العون (madda yada l-ʿawn) — to help or assist
  • Catalan: donar un cop de mà — to help or assist
  • Finnish: auttaa — to help or assist
  • German: jemandem zur Hand gehen — to help or assist
  • Italian: dare una mano — to help or assist
  • Japanese: 手を貸す (te o kasu) — to help or assist
  • Polish: podawać pomocną dłoń — to help or assist
  • Polish: podać pomocną dłoń — to help or assist
  • Portuguese: dar a mão — to help or assist
  • Portuguese: dar uma mão — to help or assist
  • Spanish: tender / echar una mano — to help or assist
  • Spanish: echar un cable — to help or assist
  • Spanish: echar un capote — to help or assist
  • Swedish: ge någon en hand — to help or assist
  • Vietnamese: góp tay — to help or assist