in hand

in hand

1. In physical possession; at one's disposal. [from 10th c.]
2. Held in the hand or hands. [from 14th c.]

   Pen in hand, I turned back to the letter I was writing.

3. (obsolete) In the presence of a particular person. [14th–19th c.]
4. Under consideration; currently being dealt with or addressed. [from 14th c.]
   • 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 6, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 119:

     'What have they to do with the matter in hand - the murder on this train?'

   • 1951 January, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway Recorder in Essex and Hertfordshire”, in Railway Magazine, page 44:

     They form part of the vast electrification and reconstruction schemes which have been in hand for a number of years at Liverpool Street, and in suburban Essex, and include the rearrangement of tracks, of which the Ilford flyover forms part; the modern signal boxes, now needed only at key points; the electric control or sub-stations; and a large electric car shed.

5. Under control. [from 18th c.]

   You need to get this situation in hand, and fast.

6. (snooker, billiards, pool) Of the cue ball: not on the table; able to be positioned by the current player. [from 19th c.]
7. (sports, chiefly UK) Still to be played. [from 19th c.]
   • 2013 September 16, The Guardian:

     At the other end […] the Sounders completed a run that had taken them from 15 points off the lead, to first place in the Supporters Shield standings with two games in hand.

• cap in hand
• cash in hand
• four-in-hand
• hat in hand
• three-in-hand

• dan nhi, hand in, handin'