on someone's hands
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian); “on one's hands”: (file)
Prepositional phrase
[edit]- (idiomatic) Being someone's liability or responsibility; with which someone is lumbered.
- Antonym: off someone's hands
- 1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us:
- When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers […]
- (idiomatic) Available to be used by someone; in someone's possession.
- Synonym: at someone's disposal
- I've got a lot of time on my hands.
- 1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day:
- 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 […]