near to hand

near to hand

1. Within reach. Keep the phone near to hand while you wait for my call. Ah, now this is a vacation—lounging on the beach with a cold drink near to hand.
2. Immediately available. You'll want to keep a reserve of cash near to hand for any unforeseen expenses you might occur while setting up the business. As your legal counsel, we will remain near to hand for the duration of the trial.
3. Very close (to arriving or occurring). Politicians in Brussels have hinted that an agreement may be near to hand. With just two minutes remaining, it looks like the team's first championship in 70 years is finally near to hand.
See also: hand, near
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • near at hand
  • close to hand
  • have (something) in hand
  • have in hand
  • get out of hand
  • get a hand on (something)
  • in hand
  • have (something) well in hand
  • be in hand
  • be on hand
References in periodicals archive
Samantha added: "We now look after the children ourselves as we don't have family near to hand.
Help us get Alex back on road to recovery; Mother in funds plea for car to drive cancer-hit son, 8, to chemo
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that Syria is near to hand over its total chemicals as it has sent 90 percent of them out of its territories so far.
OPCW: Syria Near to Hand over Total Chemicals
Available and near to hand, To support and understand.
POEMS OF THE DAY; Welcome to Canny Old Newcastle
Andrew McInnes, defending, said he accepted it was a serious matter but pointed out he had not gone armed and had picked up the stool as it was near to hand.
Man threw bar stool at mum's partner
The Banwen Miners (May 3) held at Pentreclwydau is a flat galloping course which usually attracts a big entry, while at Lower Machen, where all the facilities on this undulating course are near to hand, there are two meetings - the Tredegar Farmers (May 8) and the Gelligaer Farmers (May 22).
Crowds expected to support a busy point-to-point season in Wales; Big crowds expected at tracks across the south and west
It's not clear whether he was a park keeper - Beaumont Park is near to hand - or a gamekeeper for nearby estates.
LANDMARK: Living in the country; RING-ROAD CASUALTIES
My daughters are scared of him because, when he loses his temper, he throws whatever is near to hand. He smashed a milk bottle on the table last week and expected me to clear up the mess.
Dear MIRIAM: Mummy's boy scares my kids; LETTER OF THE DAY
Local people want a police force that is near to hand, responsive and effective," said Dr Kumar.
Merger battle backed by MP
Wouldn't it be great if the staff or auxiliary workers were able to turn around and biff these drunken slimeballs over the head with whatever was lying near to hand - a fire extinguisher would be good.
Ulster Man of the People: Pet killers only get rewarded
``These could have filled with water and weighed the men down ``They are very lucky indeed that help was so near to hand.''
Policemen rescued from danger strait; Trio thrown into treacherous waters without life jackets
Now, there's an AccuCase for darned near anything you'd need to keep near to hand: keyrings, cell phones, sunglasses, binoculars, Palm Pilots, and even your pocket cameras.
Biancihi Goes BEYOND HOLSTERS