lift a hand meaning

• (usu with a negative) to make the least effort (to help, etc)
• 
  [American idiom]
  to threaten (to strike) someone or something. (Often in the negative. The a hand can be replaced with one's hand.)
  • She's very peaceful. She wouldn't lift a hand against a fly.
  • That's right. She wouldn't lift a hand.
  • Would you raise your hand against your own brother?
  
• 
  [American slang]
  Fig. to threaten (to strike) someone or something. (Often in the negative. The a hand can be replaced with one's hand.)
    She's very peaceful. She wouldn't lift a hand against a f ly.
    Would you raise your hand against your own brother?

• Clearly, Dole will not lift a hand to stop this tragedy.
• I, for one, shall not lift a hand to harm these ladies ."
• "I ain't never had anyone lift a hand for me ."
• Before White lifts a hand, a nearby register rings up the 18 items in his cart.
• This time, Lama knew he couldn't lift a hand from the controls without crashing.
• Too encumbered to lift a hand or even turn his head, the young man turns once completely around and beams.
• And strangers around her who don't lift a hand to help her, let alone offer her a seat.
• "As long as I can lift a hand to play, I'll be playing, " he said.
• Rosenstein said the resistance will be strictly passive . " We will never lift a hand against our soldiers, " he said.
• Carved on the tombstone is the slogan : " Those who lift a hand against the Turk will die like dogs ."

• "lift a hand" meaning in Chinese: 费举手之劳
• "lift a hand" meaning in Japanese: líft a hánd ［通例否定文で］〔…しようと〕努力する〔to do〕．
• "lift a hand" meaning in French: lever le doigt