play into one's hands
To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself.
In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents' hands.
Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it.
put one's hand to the plow
set one's hand to the plow
To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big job.
We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't like it when he quit.
put one's hand to
set one's hand to
turn one's hand to
To start working at; try to do.
Hal does a good job at everything mat he turns his hand to.
After Mr. Sullivan found farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned his hand to carpentry.
red-handed
In the very act; while committing a crime or evil action.
The criminal was caught red-handed while holding up the neighborhood bank at gunpoint.
right-hand man
A valued and indispensable assistant.
The chancellor of the university never goes anywhere without the vice chancellor, his right-hand man, whose judgment he greatly trusts.
rob the till
have one's hand in the till
To steal money in your trust or for which you are responsible.
The supermarket manager suspected that one of the clerks was robbing the till.
Mr. Jones deposited one thousand dollars in their joint savings account and told his wife not to rob the till.
The store owner thought his business was failing until he discovered that the treasurer had his hand in the till.
secondhand
Used; not new; preowned.
Sometimes a secondhand car is just as reliable as a brand new one.
section hand
A worker who repairs railway track; one of the men in a section gang.
The section hands moved off the track while the train went by.