panhandle

CEFRC2

/ˈpænˌhæn.dəl/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To ask strangers for money in public places.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    An area within a nation or subnational division that appears to stick out or project when viewed on a map; an especially elongated salient.

Examples

  • I'm trying to panhandle enough money to get a sandwich.

  • Teach me to panhandle.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. The handle that activates an ejector seat.

  2. To beg for money, especially with a container in hand for receiving loose change, especially on the street, and particularly, as a homeless or vagrant person.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. The handle of a pan.

More examples

In context

  • I had a white cane, but I never used it. Once, alone and lost in downtown Washington, I unfolded it, immediately sweating as I felt hundreds of eyes shift onto me. A man who was panhandling grabbed me and showed me the way home.

  • The Captain Keith Handscomb was the occupant of that ejector seat and the only survivor; his narrow escape was by just being able to reach the seat panhandle with his third and fourth fingers of his left hand.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The homeless man had no money and had to blank on the street corner.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From pan + handle.