To hand out is to give one to each person in the group. Round the room, until everybody has one.
It splits round an object. The noun handout means the sheet given out in a lecture, and it also means money or goods given as charity, which is a use that carries a sting, since nobody wants to be described as living on handouts. Handing out advice or punishment uses the same idea of distribution. Pass out is the American equivalent of the plain verb.
1phrasehand outTo distribute something to each member of a group.
“Could you hand out the papers?”
Also accepted in games: distribute, give out
Practised in Phrasal Verbs, A Man Called Ove
First appears in chapter 13 of A Man Called Ove.
Practise this word