ask for someone's hand

Meaning

This is a traditional and formal way of expressing the act of asking a partner, or traditionally their parents, for permission to marry. Today, it is often used with a touch of romantic nostalgia or in formal contexts when discussing marriage proposals.

Examples

• Before proposing to Sarah, David sat down with her father to ask for her hand.

  Before proposing to Sarah, David sat down with her father to ask for her hand.

• He wanted to do things the traditional way, so he decided to ask for her hand in marriage.

  He wanted to do things the traditional way, so he decided to ask for her hand in marriage.

• In many cultures, it is still customary to ask for someone's hand before getting engaged.

  In many cultures, it is still customary to ask for someone's hand before getting engaged.

• I didn't expect him to ask for my hand so formally, but it was incredibly romantic.

  I didn't expect him to ask for my hand so formally, but it was incredibly romantic.

• He was incredibly nervous before calling her parents to ask for her hand.

  He was incredibly nervous before calling her parents to ask for her hand.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He asked her hand.

  ✓ He asked for her hand.

  The preposition 'for' is necessary. You ask 'for' something.

• ✗ He asked her hand in the wedding.

  ✓ He asked for her hand in marriage.

  The correct idiomatic collocation is 'in marriage', not 'in the wedding'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• He decided to keep it traditional and meet her father to ___ in marriage.

  💡 To request permission to marry someone.

  Show answer

  ask for her hand

• Did he actually ___ before they got engaged?

  💡 A formal way to request marriage.

  Show answer

  ask for her hand