hand it to
B1 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words
To say that someone did a really good job and deserves praise for it.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To acknowledge someone's skill, achievement, or cleverness, even if reluctantly.
"You have to hand it to her — she finished the marathon despite injuring her ankle."
""You've got to hand it to the British — they do ceremony like no one else.""
— The New York Times, coverage of royal events (general attribution)
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'you have to hand it to [someone]' or 'I'll hand it to [someone]'. The 'it' does not refer to a real object — it is part of the idiom. Common in both British and American English.
Commonly used with
you have to I'll credit admire acknowledge
Forms
Base
hand it to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hands it to
he/she/it
Past simple
handed it to
yesterday
Past participle
handed it to
have + pp
-ing form
handing it to
continuous
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Synonyms
give credit to acknowledge tip your hat to salute recognize commend
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