# handle

/ˈhændəɫ/ (US) · /hˈændəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/handle
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. to touch or hold

verb · CEFR A2

to touch, feel, or hold something with your hands.

For teachers: to manipulate, touch, or hold an object using the hands. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- Please wash your hands before you handle the fresh bread.
- The museum curator wore silk gloves to handle the ancient manuscript, ensuring that skin oils would not damage the fragile parchment.

### 2. to deal with a situation

verb · CEFR B1

to manage a situation, a problem, or a person.

For teachers: to manage, control, or direct a situation or person; often implies a level of skill or emotional control.

- She handled the difficult customer with a lot of patience.
- The PR team handled the crisis with remarkable efficiency, issuing a statement before the news could negatively impact the company's stock price.

### 3. how a vehicle moves

verb · CEFR B2

the way a car or bike moves and responds when you drive it.

For teachers: to respond to control or behave in a certain way when being driven or steered. Intransitive in this sense.

- The new car handles very well on wet roads.
- Despite its bulky appearance, the SUV handles with the agility of a much smaller vehicle, even on tight mountain bends.

### 4. part you hold

noun · CEFR A2

the part of an object that you hold in your hand to use or move it.

For teachers: the part of a tool, container, or door designed to be grasped by the hand.

- The handle of the suitcase broke because it was too heavy.
- The carpenter carved a custom ergonomic handle for the chisel to reduce strain during long hours of detailed work.

### 5. online name

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a name or nickname you use on the internet or social media.

For teachers: a person's chosen nickname or identifier, particularly in digital environments or radio communication.

- I need to choose a cool handle for my new gaming account.
- She decided to change her social media handle to something more professional before applying for jobs in the tech industry.

### 6. large bottle of alcohol

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

a very large bottle of alcohol, usually 1.75 litres.

For teachers: a 1.75-litre bottle of distilled spirits, so named because bottles of this size often feature a moulded glass handle.

- We bought a handle of vodka for the big party on Saturday.
- The store clerk reached for a handle of bourbon on the bottom shelf, noting that it was the most economical choice for a large gathering.

### 7. total money bet

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the total amount of money bet on an event or at a casino.

For teachers: the gross amount of money wagered within a specific period or on a specific sporting event.

- The total handle for the horse race was over a million dollars.
- Economic analysts noted that the betting handle for the championship game exceeded expectations, indicating a surge in consumer discretionary spending.

## Examples

- The handle on the front door is broken.
- She grabbed the suitcase by its leather handle and hurried toward the train platform.
- While the physical handle of the antique chest was crafted from solid brass, its intricate design made it surprisingly difficult to grip firmly when moving the heavy furniture.

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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.