hand in hand
Meaning
Closely connected; happening together or in cooperation.
Origin
Originally literal (people walking while holding hands). From the 16th–17th centuries it developed a figurative sense of things occurring together or being closely linked.
Notes
Used for close connection (“often go together”) or cooperation (“work together”). Can be literal (walking holding hands) or figurative.
Examples
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Innovation and risk often go hand in hand in the tech industry.
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In this neighborhood, high rents and small apartments seem to come hand in hand.
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For her, patience and kindness always went hand in hand.
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The two countries have worked hand in hand to tackle climate change.
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Better sleep and improved concentration tend to go hand in hand.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually as an adverbial phrase: “go/come/work hand in hand (with X)” or “X and Y go hand in hand.” Also literal: “walk hand in hand.” Fixed word order; rarely pluralized.
Synonyms
- go together
- be closely linked
- be intertwined
- in tandem
Antonyms
- at odds
- unrelated
- independent of