On your hands
prepositional phrase
If you say you have time or a task on your hands, it means you have a lot of it to deal with.
With all of her kids gone to college, she suddenly found a lot of free time on her hands.
Often appears as...
- have time on your hands
- have a task on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
prepositional phrase
If you have a situation 'on your hands', it means you are responsible for dealing with it.
With the power outage at the main facility, the company has a real crisis on its hands.
Often appears as...
- have a problem on your hands
- have a crisis on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
prepositional phrase
If someone or something is 'on your hands' you are taking care of them or it.
Now that her father has moved in with her, she has an additional person on her hands.
Often appears as...
- have someone on your hands
- have something on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
prepositional phrase
If you say you have time or a task on your hands, it means you have a lot of it to deal with.
With all of her kids gone to college, she suddenly found a lot of free time on her hands.
Often appears as...
- have time on your hands
- have a task on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
prepositional phrase
If you have a situation 'on your hands', it means you are responsible for dealing with it.
With the power outage at the main facility, the company has a real crisis on its hands.
Often appears as...
- have a problem on your hands
- have a crisis on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
prepositional phrase
If someone or something is 'on your hands' you are taking care of them or it.
Now that her father has moved in with her, she has an additional person on her hands.
Often appears as...
- have someone on your hands
- have something on your hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Subject Specific
The phrase often relates to time or tasks, not emotions or objects.
She had too much paperwork on her hands to join the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Literal
It's used metaphorically to suggest mental or emotional occupation.
After retirement, he found himself with too much time on his hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Potential Burden
Can imply an unwanted surplus of time or tasks.
I have too much time on my hands and nothing to do.
Pro Tip 1/3Subject Specific
The phrase often relates to time or tasks, not emotions or objects.
She had too much paperwork on her hands to join the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Literal
It's used metaphorically to suggest mental or emotional occupation.
After retirement, he found himself with too much time on his hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Potential Burden
Can imply an unwanted surplus of time or tasks.
I have too much time on my hands and nothing to do.
Pro Tip 1/3Subject Specific
The phrase often relates to time or tasks, not emotions or objects.
She had too much paperwork on her hands to join the meeting.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Literal
It's used metaphorically to suggest mental or emotional occupation.
After retirement, he found himself with too much time on his hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Potential Burden
Can imply an unwanted surplus of time or tasks.
I have too much time on my hands and nothing to do.
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