# in the hands of sb

idiom · CEFR C1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/in-the-hands-of-sb
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

when someone else has the power to control or decide what happens to you.

## Examples

- My future is now in the hands of the manager.
- The project is finished, so the final decision is now in the hands of the board members.
- With the negotiations stalled and the deadline looming, the fate of the entire company rested firmly in the hands of the lead mediator.

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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.