ask for one's hand ask for one's hand {v. phr.} To ask permission to marry someone. "Sir," John said timidly to Mary's father, "I came to ask for your daughter's hand." Categories: add yours hand {v. phr.} Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms by A. Makkai, M.T. Boatner, J.E. Gates © 2024 To section: A Subscribe to: American IdiomsIdioms feedEnglish languageHome page and general feed Discuss