dab hand

noun

chiefly British
: expert

Examples of dab hand in a Sentence

He's a dab hand at cooking. She's a dab hand in the kitchen. She's always been a dab hand with a paint brush.
Recent Examples on the Web Benedict, meanwhile, is an expert colorist, a dab hand with print who knows all about decorative drama. Grace McCloud, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023 Zach is a dab hand at herbal knockout potions and the occasional amateur amputation, and there’s a scene featuring the latter in which Wheatley indulges his twin tastes for deadpan comedy and head-on gross-outs to the extreme. BostonGlobe.com, 14 Apr. 2021 Sarah, a dab hand at deflecting sexism and maintaining her professional composure, takes the microphone and expresses her excitement at being on board. Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020 That, perhaps, is a little less in the bag, but the Kremlin’s operatives are dab hands at suppressing protests and neutering the press. The Economist, 12 Mar. 2020 This is a very different approach to sister-in-law Kate Middleton, and Harry’s older brother, Prince William, who have so far welcomed three royal babies into the world, and are kind of a dab hand at the whole thing. Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, 11 Apr. 2019 The returning characters include Lucius Best/Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) and steely, brilliant Edna Mode (voiced by director Bird), who turns out to be a dab hand at babysitting the literal fireball Jack-Jack. Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 11 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dab hand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

dab entry 4

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dab hand was circa 1828

Dictionary Entries Near dab hand

Cite this Entry

“Dab hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dab%20hand. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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