hand down

verb

handed down; handing down; hands down

transitive verb

1

: to transmit in succession (as from father to son)

2

: to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of a court)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Beatles, Rolling Stones hand down. —Matt Wake | [e-mail], al, 3 Nov. 2022

Scott Eli Harris, of Aubrey, Texas, now faces a maximum of five years in federal prison, though his attorney and federal prosecutors will debate what sentence the judge should hand down. —Alex Mann, baltimoresun.com, 7 Feb. 2022

While in the car, @moldyfreckle alleges, Callaghan touched her inner thigh, kissed her neck, and attempted to put his hand down her pants. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2023

Huth said Cosby, who was in his late 30s at the time, attempted to put his hand down her pants. —al, 28 Dec. 2022

Put your hand down on something that would be the equivalent of a football. —Dallas News, 11 Oct. 2022

Okay, put your hand down. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2022

Little stuff like linemen putting their hand down and picking it up before the ball moves. —Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hand down

verb

1

: to pass down from older to younger (as from parent to child)

2

: to form and express a judicial decision

Legal Definition

hand down

transitive verb

1

: to deliver (the decision or opinion of an appellate court) to the proper office of an inferior court

2

: to make an official formulation of and announce (the decision of a court)