What Does “hand sb over to sb” Mean?
The phrase “hand sb over to sb” means to give someone to another person or authority, often for legal or official reasons. It usually involves transferring responsibility or control of a person.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “hand sb over to sb” is commonly used in English when talking about giving a person to another individual or organization, especially in formal or legal contexts. For example, police officers may hand a suspect over to the court or another agency. Understanding the “hand sb over to sb” meaning helps learners use it correctly in conversations about responsibility, authority, or transfer of custody. This phrase is useful in news reports, stories, or official statements. It is a clear way to express the action of transferring someone from one party to another.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: hand sb over to sb (hand somebody over to somebody)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To give a person to another person or authority, usually officially
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Hand sb over to sb” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb) between the verb and the particle or after the whole phrase.
- hand + sb + over + to + sb (correct): The police handed the suspect over to the court.
- hand over + sb + to + sb (also correct but less common): The police handed over the suspect to the court.
Note that “sb” means “somebody” and must be a person.
How to Use “hand sb over to sb”?
Use “hand sb over to sb” when you want to say that someone is being officially given to another person or group. This often happens in legal, police, or official situations. It can also be used more generally when transferring responsibility for a person. The phrase is formal and usually not used in casual personal situations.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “hand sb over to sb in a sentence”:
- The authorities decided to hand the criminal over to the foreign police.
- After the arrest, the officers handed the suspect over to the immigration department.
- The teacher handed the disruptive student over to the school principal for further action.
- In the story, the king was handed over to his enemies as a prisoner.
- They will hand him over to the local court for trial next week.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the phrase with incorrect objects. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: The police handed over to the suspect the evidence.
Correct: The police handed the suspect over to the court. - Incorrect: She handed over the book to him. (correct verb but wrong object for this phrase)
Correct: She handed him over to the teacher.
Remember, “hand sb over to sb” is about people, not things.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “turn sb in,” “deliver sb to,” and “transfer sb to.” However, they have different uses:
- Turn sb in: Usually means to report someone to the police, often for a crime.
- Deliver sb to: More general, can mean physically bringing someone somewhere.
- Transfer sb to: Often used in medical or job contexts, meaning moving someone to another place or position.
“Hand sb over to sb” specifically implies officially giving control or responsibility of a person, often in legal matters.
Common Collocations
Common words used with “hand sb over to sb” include:
- Authorities: Official people or organizations with power (police, government)
- Police: Law enforcement officers
- Court: Legal system where trials happen
- Prison: Place where criminals are kept
- Officials: People in charge or with responsibility
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of hand sb over to sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “hand sb over to sb”:
Officer: We caught the suspect last night.
Manager: Great! When will you hand him over to the court?
Officer: Tomorrow morning. We need to complete the paperwork first.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “hand sb over to sb”:
- The police _______ the thief _______ the judge yesterday.
- After the investigation, they will _______ the witness _______ the defense attorney.
- The school decided to _______ the student _______ the principal for discipline.
FAQs
- Q: Can we use “hand sb over to sb” for objects?
A: No, it is only used for people. - Q: Is “hand sb over to sb” formal?
A: Yes, it is typically used in formal or official contexts. - Q: Can the phrase be used in casual conversations?
A: Rarely. It is more common in legal or official situations. - Q: What is the difference between “hand over” and “hand sb over to sb”?
A: “Hand over” can be used for objects or control, but “hand sb over to sb” specifically means giving a person to someone else. - Q: Can I say “hand over the suspect to the police”?
A: Yes, that is correct and similar in meaning.
