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?
- not lift a hand: [American idiom]to ...
- lift: Verb: lift &n ...
- window lift, sash lift: [Architecture]A ha ...
Examples
More: Next- 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.
