bare-handed

bare-handed — adverb

1. with your hands uncovered instead of protected by gloves

1.副詞B2
釋義

with your hands uncovered instead of protected by gloves

例句

Ignacio lifted the hot tray bare-handed and dropped it on the counter.

touch or carry something without wearing gloves

Mira grabbed the nettles bare-handed, and red marks spread quickly.

文法句型

pick something up bare-handed

work bare-handed

catch something bare-handed

用法筆記

Common with verbs for touching, carrying, catching, or working. The focus is that no gloves were worn, not that tools or weapons were absent.

常見錯誤

❌The nurse washed the wound with bare-handed.
✅The nurse washed the wound bare-handed.
💡As an adverb, 'bare-handed' usually follows the verb; 'with bare hands' is the other natural pattern.
❌We came home bare-handed from the shop.
✅We came home empty-handed from the shop.
💡'bare-handed' is about uncovered hands, not about returning without anything.

2. using only your hands, with no tool or weapon to help you

2.副詞B2
釋義

using only your hands, with no tool or weapon to help you

例句

Ezra fought the attacker bare-handed until two neighbours dragged the man away.

fight bare-handed: no weapon, only the hands

Dewi opened the jammed gate bare-handed after the wrench snapped.

文法句型

fight bare-handed

open something bare-handed

climb bare-handed

用法筆記

Usually used for dangerous or difficult actions done with the hands alone. The focus is the lack of any tool or weapon, even if gloves are not part of the situation.

常見錯誤

❌The guard stood bare-handed at the gate.
✅The guard stood unarmed at the gate.
💡'bare-handed' usually describes an action such as fighting, climbing, or opening something, not simply being present without a weapon.
❌The machine was repaired bare-handed.
✅The machine was repaired by hand.
💡'bare-handed' stresses a direct physical action with the hands, not the general contrast with automatic operation.