Meaning & use
hand-picks
Last updated
“hand-picks” is a form of “hand-pick”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive
chooses someone or something very carefully for a particular purpose, usually from a limited group
Grammar: Takes an object: hand-picks the finalists. Often used in the passive: was hand-picked for the role.
Patterns
- hand-pick someone for something
- hand-pick someone to do something
- be hand-picked from something
The director hand-picks a few students each year to join the research team.
She was hand-picked from hundreds of applicants for the exchange program.
The chef hand-picks the herbs used in every dish.
Word forms
| third person singular | hand-picks |
|---|---|
| past tense | hand-picked |
| past participle | hand-picked |
| -ing form | hand-picking |
Common combinations
- hand-pick a team
- The coach hand-picked a team of experienced players.
- hand-pick candidates
- The committee hand-picked candidates who shared its vision.
- carefully hand-pick
- They carefully hand-picked the fabrics for the collection.
- hand-picked by
- The new editor was hand-picked by the publisher.
Synonyms and how they differ
- select
- A more neutral word that does not emphasize the careful, personal nature of the choice.
- choose
- The general word; hand-pick suggests a more deliberate and selective process.
- cherry-pick
- Similar but often disapproving, suggesting you take only the best and leave the rest.
Opposites
Word family
- hand-picked adjective
- chosen with special care
- hand-picking noun
- the act of choosing carefully by hand or personally
Commonly confused: hand-picks or handpick?
hand-picks vs handpick
This is the same verb without a hyphen; hand-pick is the more common spelling in edited writing.
Practice
The manager ______ two interns to help with the project.
Choose one answer.
The subject is third-person singular (the manager), so the present-tense verb needs -s: hand-picks. Hand-pick is the base form, hand-picking is the -ing form, and hand-picked is past tense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hand-picks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.