come to hand

English

Verb

come to hand (third-person singular simple present comes to hand, present participle coming to hand, simple past came to hand, past participle come to hand)

1. To become available, often unexpectedly, or randomly.

   She fought off the intruder with whatever came to hand.

   • 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:

     Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections, rather than superficial study of every packet that comes to hand.

2. (US, horse racing) To perform well, to come under control.

   The horse came to hand, and won first prize.