phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

hand out

to distribute to people

What it means

To distribute things to several people, usually by giving them one by one. It's often used about leaflets, papers, food, prizes, or advice.

Examples

  • Volunteers handed out blankets and hot soup to people at the shelter.
  • The teacher handed out the exam papers and told us to begin.
  • He stood outside the station handing out leaflets about the protest.
  • She's always handing out advice that nobody actually asked for.

Where it comes from

Separable: 'hand them out' or 'hand out the flyers'. The noun 'handout' refers to printed material distributed in class or, more critically, to charity given without conditions.

Related phrasal verbs

#give away#hand in#drop off

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