make one's hand

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

make one's hand (third-person singular simple present makes one's hand, present participle making one's hand, simple past and past participle made one's hand)

1. (idiomatic, archaic) To gain advantage or profit.
   • 1515, Cardinal Wolsey, Letter from Cardinal Wolsey to the Duke of Suffolk:

     I have lately written to you, I would not advise you to wade any futher in these maters, for it is to be thought that the French king indendeth to make his hand by favoring you in the attaining to the said marriage; which when he shall perceive that by your means he cannot get such things as he desireth, peradventure he shall show some change and alteration in the queen's affairs, whereof great inconvenience might ensue.

   • 1584, Jean Calvin, Sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin, Vpon the Booke of Iob, page 627:

     For he that listeth to make his hand by pillage, taketh no thought when he hath done all the wickednesse that can be, because there is no redressse nor any order to be také.

   • 1599, Sir John Hayward, Life and Raigne of King Edward the Sixth:

     Now the French King, supposing to make his hand by these rude ravages in England, brake off his treaty of peace, proclaimed hostilitie, and denounced the same by his Embassador to the King.

   • 1753, Gilbert Burnet, History of the Reformation of the Church of England:

     Whereby we think, that he thought to make his Hand, by his Untruth to his King's Majefty.