Meaning of handle In English

• 0 a part of an object designed for holding, moving, or carrying the object easily:

  • a door handle

  • the handle on a suitcase

  • I can't pick the kettle up - the handle's too hot.

  • She turned the handle and slowly opened the door.

• 1 a name of a person or place, especially a strange one:

  • That's some handle to go through life with!

  • Twitter handles start with an @ sign.

  • You can follow the team on Twitter under the handle @ManUtd.

• 2 to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of:

  • I thought he handled the situation very well.

  • Some people are brilliant with computers, but have no idea how to handle (= behave with) other people.

  • If you can't handle the job I'll get someone else to do it.

  • Who handles the marketing in your company?

• 3 to pick something up and touch, hold, or move it with your hands:

  • Always wash your hands before handling food.

  • Please don't handle the vases - they're very fragile.

• 4 to operate or control something that could be difficult or dangerous:

  • Have you ever handled a gun before?

• 5 to buy and sell goods:

  • We only handle cosmetics that have not been tested on animals.

  • mainly UK He's been arrested for handling stolen goods.

• 6 to lift something and touch, hold, or move it with your hands:

  • Please handle the old photographs carefully.

• 7 to deal with, have responsibility for, or be in charge of something:

  • Who handles the marketing in your company?

  • Some managers have no idea how to handle people.

• 8 a part of an object designed for holding, moving, or carrying the object:

  • the handle of a shovel

  • I can’t pick the pot up – the handle’s too hot.

• 9 to deal with something difficult:

  • handle pressure/stress/problems It was a job that taught me how to handle pressure and use it to my advantage.

• 10 to deal with something or someone such as money, goods, or customers:

  • Your financial adviser can handle all the details of purchasing shares.

• 11 to be responsible for organizing or managing something or someone:

  • The office in Europe also handles marketing for the region.

• 12 to buy and sell goods:

  • We only handle cosmetics which have not been tested on animals.

• 13 to move or store goods:

  • The distribution company handles around 45 per cent of all the milk produced in the UK.

  • He admitted handling stolen goods.

• 14 to use your hands to move or hold something:

  • Staff are trained and equipped to handle hazardous materials.

• 15 to understand something or be able to deal with something:

  • By coming in early and staying late she started to get a handle on the problem.