hand it to someone

B1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

To say someone really deserves praise for something they did.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

common

To acknowledge that someone has done something particularly well or cleverly, sometimes despite your own rivalry or reluctance.

"I'll hand it to Tom — he managed to fix the entire system in under an hour."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

This entry is the full form of 'hand it to', with 'someone' made explicit. The expression is almost always in the construction 'you have to hand it to [name/pronoun]'. The 'it' is idiomatic and refers to no specific object. Used across all English-speaking regions.

Commonly used with

you have to I'll I must got to achievement

Forms

Base

hand it to someone

I/you/we/they

3rd person

hands it to someone

he/she/it

Past simple

handed it to someone

yesterday

Past participle

handed it to someone

have + pp

-ing form

handing it to someone

continuous

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Synonyms

give credit to acknowledge tip your hat to salute recognize admire

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