hand-me-down — adj. 1. obtained or used after prior use by another person. Note: the term hand me down is often used of clothing previously worn by older family members. The term may also be used metaphorically of ideas. Syn: hand down, secondhand, used.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
hand-me-down — /hand mee down , han /, n. 1. an article of clothing passed on to another person after being used, outgrown, etc.: The younger children wore the hand me downs of the older ones. 2. any item not new that is or can be used again: Our office… … Universalium
hand-me-down — n. An outgrown garment given to one person after use by another; usually transferred between members of a family or close friends; as, because she was the youngest of four girls, the clothes she wore were always hand me downs. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
hand-me-down — n a piece of clothing which has been used by someone and then given to another person ▪ She refused to wear hand me downs. ▪ hand me down clothes … Dictionary of contemporary English
hand-me-down — [hand′mē doun΄] n. Informal something, esp. an article of clothing, which is used and then passed along to someone else adj. Informal 1. used; secondhand 2. ready made and cheap … English World dictionary
hand-me-down — [adj] secondhand not new, passed down, previously owned, used; concepts 575,585 … New thesaurus
hand-me-down — (adj.) as a modifier, attested by 1826 … Etymology dictionary
hand-me-down — hand′ me down n. 1) clo a used item passed along for further use by another, esp. an article of clothing 2) cvb passed along for further use by another • Etymology: 1870–75 … From formal English to slang
hand-me-down — ► NOUN ▪ a garment or other item that has been passed on from another person … English terms dictionary
hand-me-down — adjective Date: 1827 1. put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another < hand me down clothes > < hand me down anecdotes > 2. ready made and usually cheap and shoddy • hand me down noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
