Definition of hand on

The phrase "hand on" is a phrasal verb that is commonly used in English to express the idea of someone passing on knowledge or skills to another person by placing their hand on the recipient's shoulder or head as a sign of guidance or support. The origin of this phrase can be traced back to medieval times, where it was used to describe the act of laying on of hands, a religious ritual performed by a priest or bishop during baptism, confirmation, and ordination. This ritual involved placing the hand of the priest or bishop on the head of the person being ordained or confirmed, symbolically transferring spiritual authority and power. In the Middle Ages, the phrase "hand of" or "hand upon" was also used to indicate the act of handing over an object or authority by placing it in someone's hand. This usage eventually became obsolete, but the phrase "hand on" continued to be used in a figurative sense to denote the passing on of knowledge, skills, or wisdom from one person to another. In modern English, "hand on" is commonly used in both written and spoken language to describe teaching, supervision, or guidance. Examples include "Hand on, I'll show you how to operate the machine" or "The teacher handed on her knowledge to the students". This usage has also evolved to include the use of both hands, as in "Put your hands on your head and slowly raise them". In summary, the origin of the phrase "hand on" can be traced back to the religious ritual of laying on of hands, which has evolved over time to denote the transfer of knowledge, skills, or wisdom from one person to another.