"on my hand" vs "in my hand"

Question

"on my hand" vs "in my hand"

Both "in my hand" and "on my hand" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "In my hand" is used when something is physically inside your hand, while "on my hand" is used when something is physically resting on the surface of your hand.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Use "on my hand" when you want to indicate that something is physically placed or lying on the surface of your hand.

Examples:

There is a butterfly on my hand.
She placed a ring on my hand.
I felt a drop of rain on my hand.

Alternatives:

resting on my hand
lying on my hand
sitting on my hand
perched on my hand
placed on my hand

Use "in my hand" when you want to indicate that something is physically held or contained within your hand.

Examples:

I have a pen in my hand.
She placed a ring in my hand.
There was a note in my hand.

Alternatives:

in my possession
held in my hand
grasped in my hand
clutched in my hand
contained in my hand

Answer 1

on my hand

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to something that is physically resting on the surface of your hand.

Answer 2

in my hand

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to something that is physically inside your hand.

"on my hand" vs "in my hand"

on my hand

in my hand

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