handle (redirected from -handled)

*a handle on something

Fig. a means of understanding something; an aid to understanding something. (*Typically: get ~ have ~ give someone ~.) Let me try to get a handle on this. Now that I have a handle on the concept, I can begin to understand it.

fly off the handle

Fig. to lose one's temper. Every time anyone mentions taxes, Mrs. Brown flies off the handle. If she keeps flying off the handle like that, she'll have a heart attack.

See also: fly

handle someone with kid gloves

Fig. to be very careful with a touchy person. Bill has become so sensitive. You really have to handle him with kid gloves. You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I can take it.

See also: glove, kid

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be too hot to handle  (informal)

if something or someone is too hot to handle, people cannot deal with them, because they are dangerous or difficult The book was so sexually explicit, it was considered too hot to handle by most publishers.

See also: hot

fly off the handle  (informal)

to react in a very angry way to something someone says or does He really flew off the handle when I suggested selling the house.

See also: fly

get a handle on something   (informal)

to find a way to understand a situation in order to control it We need to get a better handle on the effects of climate change.

See fly off the handle, handle with kid gloves

See also: get

handle/treat somebody with kid gloves

to be very polite or kind to someone who is important or easily upset because you do not want to make them angry or upset

Usage notes: Kid gloves are gloves made from very soft leather which would feel very soft if someone touched you with them.

Linda can be a very difficult woman - you've really got to handle her with kid gloves.

See also: glove, kid

love handles  (humorous)

a layer of extra fat around the middle of a person's body You wouldn't want me to lose my love handles, would you?

See also: love

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fly off the handle

to get very angry fly into a rage When we make mistakes, he brings it to our attention, but he doesn't fly off the handle like he used to.

See also: fly

get a handle on something

to understand something We need to get a handle on what caused the fire and what can be done to prevent another one.

See also: get

too hot to handle

too dangerous or difficult to deal with Certain subjects are still too hot to handle on television shows.

See also: hot

treat somebody with kid gloves also handle somebody with kid gloves

to deal with someone very gently or carefully While he treated writers with kid gloves, he was unpleasant to everyone else.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of kid gloves (gloves made of very soft, smooth leather)

See also: glove, kid, treat