at hand
English
Prepositional phrase
- Within easy reach; nearby.
- c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], part 1, 2nd edition, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, OCLC 932920499; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iii:
- The King your brother is now hard at hand,
Meete with the foole, and rid your royall ſhoulders
Of ſuch a burden, as outweighs the ſands
And all the craggie rockes of Caſpea.
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- Near; soon
- Synonyms: approaching, imminent; see also Thesaurus:impending
- 1903 July, Jack London, “Into the Primitive”, in The Call of the Wild, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., OCLC 28228581, page 39:
- At last, one morning, the propeller was quiet, and the Narwhal was pervaded with an atmosphere of excitement. He felt it, as did the other dogs, and knew that a change was at hand.
- (figurative) Currently receiving attention.
Related terms
Translations
within easy reach; nearby
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near; soon; approaching; imminent
currently receiving attention
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Further reading
- at hand at OneLook Dictionary Search
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