close at hand

Related to close at hand: on the other hand, old hand

close at hand

1. Nearby; physically within one's reach. Your mother will need you close at hand to help as she makes the big dinner. I always keep a glass of water close at hand when I sleep, because I hate waking up thirsty.
2. Immediately available. You'll want to keep a reserve of cash close at hand for any unforeseen expenses you might incur while setting up the business. As your legal counsel, we will remain close at hand for the duration of the trial.
3. Very close (to arriving or occurring). Politicians in Brussels have hinted that an agreement may be close at hand. With just two minutes remaining, it looks like the team's first championship in 70 years is finally close at hand.
See also: close, hand
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

close at hand

within reach; handy. I'm sorry, but your letter isn't close at hand. Please remind me what you said in it. When you're cooking, you should keep all the ingredients close at hand.
See also: close, hand
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • close to hand
  • be close to the mark
  • be close to/near the mark
  • come to a close
  • up close and personal
  • too close for comfort
  • too close to call
  • close to (one's) heart
  • close to your heart
  • come close
References in periodicals archive
"Cocoa in a Nutshell" by Michael Beam and James Duncan Davidson (O'Reilly) is the book developers will want close at hand as they work with this technology.
A complete desktop reference for Cocoa developers "Cocoa in a nutshell"
AK: I bought a ream of paper and kept it close at hand. Each day I wrote on the top sheet and numbered it with the date.
Three weeks in the dark: Qigong instructor Aimon Kopera sheds light on her unique experience of deep meditation
But what if there is no macrophage close at hand to a dying cell?
Calling out the cell undertakers. (Biology)
I am told the only reason the airport has not been transformed into housing at great profit to the Sifton family who own it is that Frank Stronach from Magna, which has its head office around the corner, said he would move out without an airport close at hand.
Northern 'bear' restores joy in airline travel
And the inspiration for this is, for many such professionals, so close at hand. NH
Inspiration might be closer than you think. (Guest Editorial)
On the other hand the wall-mounted large roll dispenser is also available for areas where wipers need to be constantly close at hand.
Kimberly-Clark wipes all. (Plant)
Every doctor who treats otitis media will want to keep this supplement close at hand.
The use of topical ototoxic drugs in chronic otitis media
But in the meantime, check out James Carroll's Toward a New Catholic Church; it's close at hand.
Time for Vatican III? (Odds & Ends)
"The dream of centuries is close at hand," declared President Bush.
Bush's Tribute to the new European "Soviet". (Insider Report)
But Angelou had her ever-present allies close at hand in San Francisco.
A Song Flung Up to Heaven. (nonfiction reviews)
Christine Donnelly of Irish tour operators Falcon Tours, said people delayed here would find help close at hand.
TRIPPERS' HELL
If your eyes tear up at the very thought of walking outdoors, Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping (Ten Speed Press, $19.95) should be as close at hand as your Benadryl.
Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping
With a convenient all-in-one, three-spindle design including DVD or CD-ROM, hard disk drive and diskette drive, the Satellite 1700 series notebooks keep every feature close at hand. In addition, the Satellite's one-touch Internet access button gives users the freedom to jump on the Internet or access their e-mail in a snap.
TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES NEW SATELLITE 1700 SERIES NOTEBOOKS
But given that the development hurdles look like a matter of time rather than interest, the day of real-time sharing of full financial statements may be close at hand.
XBRL's Emerging Framework
It's a book to keep reassuringly close at hand for a dose of inspiration and clarity whenever needed.
Sheehan's Running and Being