handle

verb

/ˈhændl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they handle	/ˈhændl/ /ˈhændl/
he / she / it handles	/ˈhændlz/ /ˈhændlz/
past simple handled	/ˈhændld/ /ˈhændld/
past participle handled	/ˈhændld/ /ˈhændld/
-ing form handling	/ˈhændlɪŋ/ /ˈhændlɪŋ/

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deal with

[transitive] to deal with a situation, a person, an area of work or a strong emotion

handle something/somebody 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.
(informal) ‘Any problems?’ ‘Nothing I can't handle.’
(informal) I've got to go. I can't handle it any more (= deal with a difficult situation).
handle yourself (informal) 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.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

competently
efficiently
properly
…

verb + handle

be able to
be unable to
can
…

preposition

with

See full entry

touch with hands

[transitive] handle something 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.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

carefully
with care
carelessly
…

See full entry

control

[transitive] handle something 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.

[intransitive] handle well/badly to be easy/difficult to drive or control

The car handles well in any weather.

Topics Transport by car or lorryc2

buy/sell

[transitive] handle something to buy or sell something synonym deal in

They were arrested for handling stolen goods.

Word OriginOld English handle (noun), handlian (verb), from hand.

handle

noun

/ˈhændl/

Idioms

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of door/window

enlarge image

the part of a door, window, etc. that you use to open it

She turned the handle and opened the door.
a door handle

Extra Examples

You have to turn the handle and then pull it towards you.
He tried the handle but the window was locked.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

long
short
carrying
…

verb + handle

have
pull
push
…

preposition

on a/the handle

See full entry

of cup/bag/tool

enlarge image

the part of an object, such as a cup, a bag or a tool, that you use to hold it or carry it

the handle of a knife
a broom handle
The handle's broken off this jug.

-handled

(in adjectives) having the number or type of handle mentioned

a long-handled spoon

name

a name or nickname

a person's username on a social media site or online forum

I added my handle at the top of my blog page so that readers could view my tweets as well as my blog posts.

Topics Phones, email and the internetc2

Word OriginOld English handle (noun), handlian (verb), from hand.

Idioms

fly off the handle

(informal) to suddenly become very angry
- He seems to fly off the handle about the slightest thing these days.
Topics Feelingsc2

get/have a handle on somebody/something

(informal) to understand or know about somebody/something, especially so that you can deal with it or them later
- I can't get a handle on these sales figures.

give somebody a handle (on something)

(informal) to give somebody enough facts or knowledge for them to be able to deal with something
- Visiting the country should give us a better handle on understanding the problems.