Everyday English
on hand
available to use
If something is on hand, it is available and ready to be used.
Hear it in real life
Do you have any batteries on hand?
Yes, there are two in the drawer.
We did not have any proper tools on hand, so we used a kitchen knife.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: I have the ingredients in hand.
Say: I have the ingredients on hand.
Use "on hand" for supplies that are available to use; "in hand" usually describes control or progress.
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
something is on hand; have something on hand
Your turn: say it out loud
We did not have any proper tools on hand, so we used a kitchen knife.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
on hand
available to use
“We did not have any proper tools on hand, so we used a kitchen knife.”
heytardy
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