If you hand something over to someone, you pass it to them.
He also handed over a letter of apology from the Prime Minister. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
'I've got his card,' Judith said, handing it over. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
When you hand over someone such as a prisoner to someone else, you give the control of and responsibility for them to that other person.
They would just catch the robbers and hand them over to the police. [VERB noun PARTICLE + to]
This morning the American was formally handed over to the ambassador. [V n Pto n]
[Also V n P, VP n (not pron)]
3. phrasal verb
If you hand overto someone or hand something overto them, you give them the responsibility for dealing with a particular situation or problem.
The present leaders have to decide whether to stand down and hand over to a youngergeneration. [VERBPARTICLE + to]
I wouldn't dare hand this project over to anyone else. [VERB noun PARTICLE + to]
They would like to hand over their financial affairs to another body. [VP n to n, VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
See full dictionary entry for hand
hand over in British English
verb(tr, adverb)
1.
to surrender possession of; transfer
nounhandover
2.
a transfer or surrender
hand over in American English
to give up; deliver
See full dictionary entry for hand
Examples of 'hand over' in a sentence
hand over
Another villager handed over a large panel that he had turned into a washing board.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If they don't have space, agree how long you will keep them before they are handed over or taken to the charity shop.
The Sun (2016)
We have had the upper hand over them in terms of results.
The Sun (2011)
My next task was to see if anyone would hand over change to make a phone call.
The Sun (2008)
She can see herself handing over creative responsibility to her.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Another had a hand over her eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This means compromise and backroom politicking often have the upper hand over public battles.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
One always has the upper hand over the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Can diplomacy regain upper hand over war?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The old woman handed over cash and cheques during eight months of being targeted by the rogue gang.
The Sun (2006)
There are very few mothers from my part of the world who would hand over this responsibility to their sons.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The tax my companies hand over helps to pay for schools, hospitals and other essential services.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But this week, yet another was spotted handing over her phone number.
The Sun (2012)
Once the new operation is up and running, responsibility is handed over to a local team.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
MOST tailors would get the boot if they handed over something like this.
The Sun (2013)
I handed over yet another ten dollars and thundered that we had been robbed.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Excess cash handed over, passport taken to a back room, muffled sounds of phone calls.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In a digital age, money isn't something you hand over when the deal is done.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Hand over responsibility for protecting us from the Armed Forces to the police.
The Sun (2009)
Bold as brass, in broad daylight, they took the hint and handed over another.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One of our national teams, at least, has now conclusively gained the upper hand over the old enemy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
From here, we trek to the summit, scrambling the last few metres hand over foot as our feet sink deep into the snow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Such a result for Bath will take all the class that they possesses, to be applied after the forwards have taken the upper hand over their counterparts.