hand-me-down
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Wikipedia.
hand-me-down
(hănd′mē-doun′)adj.
1. Handed down to one person after being used and discarded by another.
2. Of inferior quality; shabby.
n.
Something, such as an article of clothing, that is passed on from one person to another.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hand-me-down
n
1.
a. something, esp an outgrown garment, passed down from one person to another
b. (as modifier): a hand-me-down dress.
2.
a. anything that has already been used by another
b. (as modifier): hand-me-down ideas.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
hand′-me-down`
n.
1. a used item passed along for further use by another, esp. an article of clothing.
adj. 2. passed along for further use by another.
[1870–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | hand-me-down - outgrown garment passed down from one person to another garment - an article of clothing; "garments of the finest silk" |
| Adj. | 1. | hand-me-down - passed on from one person to another; "not too proud to wear hand-me-down clothes" old - of long duration; not new; "old tradition"; "old house"; "old wine"; "old country"; "old friendships"; "old money" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
hand-me-down
adjective cast-off, used, second-hand, worn, inherited, passed on, handed down, reach-me-down (informal) Most of the children wore hand-me-down clothes.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995