on someone's hands en · ADP
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) Being someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.
When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers […]
1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us:
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(idiomatic) Available to be used by someone; in someone's possession.
I've got a lot of time on my hands.
It is most curious to see that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to simply wander about this house bothering others […]
1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day:
Antonyms
Relateds
on hand · in someone's hands · blood on someone's hands · have blood on one's hands