# fill one's hand

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fill-ones-hand
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To draw one's handgun, especially for an armed confrontation.

## Examples

- The outlaw started to fill his hand during the argument.
- When the stranger reached for his holster, the sheriff warned him not to fill his hand.
- The tension in the saloon reached a breaking point as the gambler hesitated, knowing that to fill his hand would inevitably lead to a fatal confrontation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.