Meaning
- to assist or help someone particularly voluntarily.
- to give assistance
- to offer help.
Example Sentences
- When my friend was moving to his new house, I offered to lend a hand with preparing, packing, and carrying boxes.
- Our local community members always come together to lend a hand when it comes to charity events.
- The religious teacher asked the students to lend a hand in cleaning up their classroom after the art project.
- When disaster struck, many volunteers rushed to the affected area to lend a hand by providing support to those affected.
Origin
The English expression "lend a (helping) hand" has been around for millennia and likely originated as early as the Old English of the ninth century, but Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the greatest poets of the English Middle Ages (1343-1400, best known for The Canterbury Tales), is credited with popularizing it. The term "lend a hand" comes from physically helping someone. "Lend" implies to lend temporarily, and "hand" indicates to physically help. The term symbolizes helping others by lending a hand.
"Lend a hand" means to help someone. It means helping someone with their work, skills, or resources. The term promotes community through selflessness and generosity. The phrase can be used figuratively to help a friend, coworker, or community endeavor. It emphasizes empathy and compassion by offering help without expecting anything in return. The phrase "lend a hand" has come to symbolize the importance of assisting others. It promotes togetherness and well-being by showing that assisting others can improve their lives.
