hat in hand

adverb

: in an attitude of respectful humility

have to go hat in hand to apologize

Synonyms

• cap in hand
• humbly

Examples of hat in hand in a Sentence

he was forced to apologize hat in hand for the offensive comment

Recent Examples on the Web

Noland said the fare increase was needed not just to generate additional revenue but also to show state lawmakers a commitment to raising money while going to the General Assembly, hat in hand, to request additional funding from the state. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025

What will ultimately happen is that these countries will come, hat in hand, to the negotiating table. —Gene Marks, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025

The transit agency will once again go hat in hand to state officials hoping to plug the shortfall. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

But the very fact that New York City has to go to Albany, hat in hand, to ask permission to alter a city tax levied on city residents with the funds going into the city treasury is maddening. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hat in hand

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland