handout
handout — noun
1. a printed or electronic document given to people in a class, meeting, or event,
a printed or electronic document given to people in a class, meeting, or event, that outlines key ideas, includes exercises, or provides extra information about a topic
The biology handout contained a diagram of the human heart and key vocabulary words.
collocation: biology handout / class handout
Emre picked up a handout about campus safety at the student orientation desk.
Lotte highlighted three mistakes in the printed handout before returning it to the teacher.
The training handout for new nurses included a colour-coded chart of emergency medication doses.
Noa sorted her history lecture handouts by unit, using coloured tabs for each exam topic.
- worksheet
more specific — often contains exercises to be completed
- summary sheet
focuses on condensed content rather than full notes
文法句型
handout + about/on + [topic]
handout + for + [class/event]
用法筆記
Commonly used in academic and professional settings. A handout is usually shorter and less polished than a textbook or manual; it supports a specific lesson or talk.
常見錯誤
2. money, food, clothing, or other basic necessities that are given free of charge
money, food, clothing, or other basic necessities that are given free of charge to people who are poor, homeless, or affected by an emergency
The Red Cross truck arrived with emergency handouts of food and blankets for the survivors.
collocation: emergency handouts / relief handouts
Tuan's family declined government handouts and started a small repair shop instead.
The shelter provided daily handouts of hot soup and bread to hungry families.
Kwame told city councillors that food handouts alone could not help — families needed job training.
Hyun sorted the clothing handouts by size so families could find what they needed quickly.
- earned income
money received in exchange for work rather than as a gift
文法句型
handout(s) + of + [items]
rely on + handouts
live on + handouts
用法筆記
This sense can carry a mildly negative tone, suggesting dependency rather than long-term help. In neutral or formal writing, alternatives such as 'humanitarian aid', 'relief supplies', or 'social assistance' are often preferred.
常見錯誤
handout — verb
1. to give something to each person in a group without asking for payment — for exa
to give something to each person in a group without asking for payment — for example, distributing documents, food, or prizes
The volunteers handed out free sandwiches and coffee to the striking workers at the gate.
phrasal verb: hand + out + [object]
Every December, the clinic hands out flu vaccines to elderly residents free of charge.
Jude carefully handed the exam booklets out face down, as the instructions required.
The mayor handed out awards to students who completed one hundred hours of community service.
- distribute
more formal and can imply a planned allocation, not limited to free items
- give away
emphasises the free-of-charge aspect but is less structured
- charge for
to ask for payment in exchange for something
- collect
to gather items from people rather than give them out
文法句型
hand + out + [object]
hand + [object] + out
be handed out
用法筆記
The verb is always written as two words ('hand out') in running text. The object can come between 'hand' and 'out' (hand the papers out) or after 'out' (hand out the papers). When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the two parts: hand them out, not hand out them.