Handle I ˈhændl Handling Handled Difficult She's Extra

• a new man was appointed to handle the crisis.
• she's very good at handling her patients.
• to handle a situation/case
• he decided to handle things himself.

handle

Verb Forms

1. to deal with a situation, a person, an area of work or a strong emotion
• A new man was appointed to handle the crisis.
• She's very good at handling her patients.
• to handle a situation/case
• He decided to handle things himself.
• This matter has been handled very badly.
• The sale was handled by Adams Commercial.
• We can handle up to 500 calls an hour at our new offices.
• We all have to learn to handle stress.
• ‘Any problems?’ ‘Nothing I can't handle.’
• I've got to go. I can't handle it any more (= deal with a difficult situation).
• You have to know how to handle yourself in this business (= know the right way to behave).

Extra Examples

• He wasn't mentally equipped to handle this situation.
• Her next question was not so easily handled.
• Large meetings are notoriously less productive and more difficult to handle.
• She knew how to handle publicity.
• The library routinely handles a wide variety of enquiries.
• This issue may need to be handled carefully.
• This was a problem that I just couldn't handle.
2. to touch, hold or move something with your hands
• Our cat hates being handled.
• The label on the box said: ‘Fragile. Handle with care.’

Extra Examples

• Garden tools can be hazardous if carelessly handled.
• Many of the prisoners were roughly handled; some were killed.
• He ran through the details of loading and handling the gun.
• The books are ancient, and need to be handled very carefully.
3. to control a vehicle, an animal, a tool, etc.
• I wasn't sure if I could handle such a powerful car.
• She's a difficult horse to handle.

Extra Examples

• The car is heavy and quite difficult to handle
• He doesn't really know how to handle a glider safely yet.
• Riders have to learn how to handle their machines in all conditions.
4. to be easy/difficult to drive or control
• The car handles well in any weather.
5. to buy or sell something
• SYNONYM deal in
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/deal_1
• They were arrested for handling stolen goods.

Word Origin

• Old English handle (noun), handlian (verb), from hand.