IN HAND

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does in hand mean? 

• IN HAND (adverb)
  The adverb IN HAND has 1 sense:

1. under control

  Familiarity information: IN HAND used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IN HAND (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Under control

Context example:

the riots were in hand

Antonym:

out of hand (out of control)

 Context examples 

No doubt he is a sensible man, and I suppose may have a natural talent for—thinks strongly and clearly—and when he takes a pen in hand, his thoughts naturally find proper words.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

These things, in conjunction with the wild work we have in hand, help to unnerve a man.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Stow that! Are you going to take up your duties as cabin-boy? Or do I have to take you in hand?

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Well, then, he shall! I thought he looked as if he did!” returned Miss Mowcher, waddling up to me, bag in hand, and laughing on me as she came.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no connection whatever with the matter in hand.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The first thing that I did was to wire to Mr. Forbes, who had the case in hand.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With bowed heads and steel caps in hand, the archers stood at their horse's heads, while Sir Simon Burley repeated the Pater, the Ave, and the Credo.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“You must keep yourself in hand to-night, Berks,” said Jackson.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Nothing in all this,” said Baynes, stalking, candle in hand, from room to room.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sir George—whom, by-the-bye, I have forgotten to describe,—a very big, and very fresh-looking country gentleman, stands before their sofa, coffee- cup in hand, and occasionally puts in a word.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)