What’s “at hand” mean?

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“Close within reach” is an idiom that refers to the proximity of two objects or people. It can refer to geographic location, emotional closeness, or the imminent occurrence of an event. It implies intimacy and support during difficult times.

“Close within reach” is an idiom that is used to refer to an actual or perceived distance between two objects. Typically, this English saying conveys the idea that the two objects are within reach of each other, implying that the connection will be complete shortly. At hand can refer to the geographic location of a destination, the status between two individuals, or even the imminent occurrence of a specific event.

In regards to geography, “within reach” normally implies that a city, town, or other place is nearby. For example, if someone is heading to the beach and passes a road sign indicating that the last turn before arriving at the beach is on the way, it can be said that the beach is at hand. Similarly, if a road sign indicates that the city limits for a given city will be reached shortly, the driver can correctly state that the city is within reach. When an employee lives a few blocks from their workplace, they can be said to be close at hand, implying that in the event of an emergency that employee could get to the workplace quickly and help deal with the problem.

This idiomatic expression can also be used to identify the current closeness of two people to each other. When someone is close, it implies that the person is close enough to be touched if desired. In a similar sense, an individual may become close in terms of being held emotionally close to the heart of a loved one, even though the two people are physically at considerable distance from each other. When this is the case, the ability to reach out to that person through some sort of communication process can help reinforce this sense of closeness on some level, despite that geographical distance.

In all its uses, within reach implies a closeness and intimacy that make contact relatively easy to handle, at least on some level. This state of closeness often provides support and comfort during times of distress, even when closeness takes the form of being readily available via a phone call or email. Generally, having someone close in some way makes it easier to deal with difficult situations, as there is a feeling of not being alone and having nothing but personal resources to deal with whatever circumstances arise.




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