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to have something on one's hands
01
to need to deal with something as a part of one's responsibilities or obligations
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IdiomWhat is the origin of the idiom "have something on one's hands" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "have something on one's hands" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. It is used to describe a situation where someone has a problem or responsibility that they need to deal with.
Example
If we don't solve this problem, we will have a big mess on our hands.
I have a lot of work on my hands this week.
They have time on their hands during the weekends, so they take up hobbies and explore new activities.
She is always complaining about having too much housework on her hands.
He had a difficult customer on his hands yesterday.
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