The phrase "good hands" is often used to describe someone who has the ability or skill to handle a particular task or situation. In terms of spelling, the word "good" is pronounced with the IPA phonetic transcription /ɡʊd/, which features a voiced velar stop followed by a central vowel. The word "hands" is pronounced with the IPA phonetic transcription /hændz/, which features an unvoiced glottal fricative followed by a dental fricative and a voiced alveolar nasal, culminating in a voiced alveolar stop.
"Good hands" is a colloquial phrase or expression commonly used to describe someone's level of skill, competence, or reliability, primarily in tasks, activities, or areas of expertise that require dexterity, precision, or proficiency. The term is often associated with physical activities or manual tasks that demand coordination, control, or finesse.
In a literal sense, "good hands" typically refers to someone who possesses exceptional hand-eye coordination or aptitude, enabling them to perform tasks with precision and accuracy. This could be in the form of sports, such as basketball, where a player with good hands is skilled at catching, dribbling, or shooting the ball without dropping or fumbling it. It could also apply to hobbies like painting or playing a musical instrument, where an individual exhibits skillful control over their hands to create precise and aesthetically pleasing work.
In a figurative sense, the phrase extends beyond manual proficiency and can also denote a person's reliability, trustworthiness, or ability to handle a particular responsibility. For instance, one might say that a skilled surgeon has good hands, indicating that they possess the necessary expertise and precision required for intricate medical procedures. Similarly, a trusted individual who is adept at handling confidential information or keeping secrets may be described as having good hands.
Overall, the term "good hands" is a versatile idiom used to acknowledge proficiency, dependability, or excellence in various physical or cognitive domains, where agility, fine control, or reliability are valued attributes.
The phrase "good hands" does not have a specific etymology because it is a commonly used expression that simply means to be skilled or competent at something. It can be traced back to Old English roots, where "good" meant "excellent" or "virtuous" in terms of quality and "hands" referred to the physical ability or competence of a person. However, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact origin as the phrase has evolved over time and is used in various contexts and languages.