handle
/ˈhæn.dəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhæn.dəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhan-dᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈhændl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhændl/ (ame, ipa)
handle — noun
1. The part of a tool, bag, door, or container that you hold in your hand when usin
The part of a tool, bag, door, or container that you hold in your hand when using, carrying, or moving it.
Eitan pulled the brass door handle and stepped inside the warm café.
door handle — common collocation for entrance
The handle of the suitcase broke when Cole dropped it on the stairs.
the handle of [object] — possessive pattern
Hold the handle with both hands when the bus is moving.
Marta bought a new pair of scissors with soft rubber handles.
文法句型
the handle of [noun]
[adjective] handle
用法筆記
A handle can be made of metal, wood, plastic, or rubber. Different objects use different words for their handle parts — a door has a 'door handle', a cup has a 'handle', and a knife has a 'handle' (sometimes called a 'haft').
常見錯誤
2. An unusual or amusing name that people use when talking about a particular perso
An unusual or amusing name that people use when talking about a particular person or place, instead of their real or official name.
The town earned the handle 'Gateway to the North' because of its location.
earned the handle — collocation for acquiring a nickname
Layla's friends gave her the handle 'The Calculator' for her fast math skills.
That little bookstore goes by the odd handle 'The Talking Owl'.
Eitan picked up the handle 'The Fireman' after putting out a kitchen fire alone.
文法句型
[possessive] handle
the handle '[phrase]'
3. A name or word that a person uses to identify themselves on a social media websi
A name or word that a person uses to identify themselves on a social media website or app, usually starting with the @ symbol.
You can follow Kemi on Twitter by searching for the handle @kemi_art.
@ symbol in handle — standard format for social media usernames
Dylan chose a new handle when he started his YouTube cooking channel.
Trang's Instagram handle is hard to remember because it has too many numbers.
Mizuki posts her paintings under the handle @mizuki_studio.
- username
more general; 'handle' is specific to social media
- screen name
used on forums and messaging apps; older term
- account name
the official name registered to an online account
文法句型
[social media platform] handle
under the handle [@name]
用法筆記
On different platforms, a handle may also be called a 'username' (general), 'user ID', or 'screen name'. The @ symbol before a handle is used to tag or mention someone in a post or comment.
常見錯誤
handle — verb
1. To take responsibility for a situation, problem, task, or strong emotion and do
To take responsibility for a situation, problem, task, or strong emotion and do what is needed to manage it or bring it to a good result.
Otis handled the angry customer with patience and a calm voice.
handle + [person] — dealing with a person
The company hired extra staff to handle the holiday orders.
Layla finds it hard to handle criticism about her paintings.
Who is handling the travel arrangements for the conference this year?
文法句型
handle + [situation/problem/person/emotion]
cannot handle + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Common with 'can/cannot' to talk about ability or tolerance ('I cannot handle this much pressure'). The object is usually a task, problem, person, or emotion — not a physical object being touched.
常見錯誤
2. To pick up, hold, move, or touch something using your hands, especially when you
To pick up, hold, move, or touch something using your hands, especially when you need to be careful or gentle.
Please handle the antique plates with care — they are very fragile.
handle with care — fixed expression for delicate objects
Gita gently handled the kitten to check if its leg was hurt.
The museum visitors were told not to handle the ancient pottery.
Mauricio handled the heavy boxes carefully as he moved them upstairs.
文法句型
handle + [physical object]
handle [object] with care/gently
用法筆記
Often appears with adverbs like 'gently', 'carefully', 'roughly'. The phrase 'handle with care' is a standard warning printed on packages containing breakable items.
常見錯誤
3. To use or control a vehicle, machine, tool, or weapon, especially when it requir
To use or control a vehicle, machine, tool, or weapon, especially when it requires skill or care to do so safely.
Eshe handled the delivery truck through the narrow streets of the old town.
handle + vehicle through [difficult environment]
Only trained staff may handle the laboratory equipment.
The pilot handled the plane smoothly during the storm.
Cole learned to handle a chainsaw on his uncle's farm last summer.
文法句型
handle + [vehicle/machine/tool/weapon]
用法筆記
The object is usually a vehicle, a piece of equipment, or a tool. When referring to a vehicle, this sense overlaps with verb sense 4 (CAR CONTROL), but sense 3 focuses on the driver's active operation, while sense 4 describes the vehicle's general behaviour.
常見錯誤
4. To move and respond in a particular way when being steered or driven — used to d
To move and respond in a particular way when being steered or driven — used to describe the driving quality of a vehicle, not the driver's action.
This car handles beautifully even on icy mountain roads.
[vehicle] handles [adverb] — intransitive pattern for describing driving feel
The jeep handles well on rough paths through the forest.
Mauricio's old motorcycle handles poorly after rain on sharp turns.
The sedan handles smoothly at high speeds on the highway.
文法句型
[vehicle] handles [adverb]
[vehicle] handles well/badly/smoothly
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive. The subject is a vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle). It is followed by an adverb such as 'well', 'badly', 'smoothly', 'poorly', 'beautifully'. It describes the vehicle's general driving behaviour, not a specific action by the driver.
常見錯誤
5. To buy, sell, or be responsible for supplying a particular type of goods or prod
To buy, sell, or be responsible for supplying a particular type of goods or products as part of a business.
The corner shop handles only organic fruits and vegetables.
handle + [product type] — pattern for what a business sells
That company handles exports of electronic parts to several Asian countries.
Cole's family has handled fresh seafood at the market for three generations.
The distributor stopped handling dairy products after the new rules took effect.
文法句型
handle + [type of goods/products]
用法筆記
Common in business and trade contexts. The subject is usually a shop, company, or distributor. The object is a type of product, not a specific individual item. This sense is different from 'sell' because it may also include storing, transporting, or managing the product.