ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wait on someone hand and foot

idiom
Meaning

To attend to (someone's) every need, to the point of excess.


Examples
SIMPLE

She waits on her guests hand and foot.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel staff waited on us hand and foot, bringing fresh towels and snacks every hour.

COMPLEX

Having grown up with servants who waited on him hand and foot, he found the cramped apartment and its lack of amenities utterly unbearable.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  2. 02

    back of one's hand

    A display of disrespect or scorn.

  3. 03

    bear a hand

    To make haste; to help quickly.

  4. 04

    beat feet

    To run.

  5. 05

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  6. 06

    big hand

    Synonym of minute hand (on a clock face).

  7. 07

    bite someone's hand off

    To enthusiastically accept an offer.

  8. 08

    bite the hand that feeds one

    To cause harm to a benefactor (especially one that one is dependent on, thus with the idea that this behaviour is self-damaging).

Last updated April 17, 2026