hand down
phrasal verbhand something down (to somebody)
- [usually passive] to give or leave something to somebody who is younger than you
- These skills used to be handed down from father to son.
- Most of his clothes were handed down to him by his older brother.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- to officially give a decision/statement, etc. synonym announce
- The judge has handed down his verdict.
- The court is getting ready to hand down a potentially historic decision.