手てをかける

expression, ichidan verb

lay hands on; touch

Used when someone physically touches or handles something, often with a nuance of interfering, meddling, or starting to work on something.

• 彼かれはその書しょ類るいに手てをかけた。

  He laid his hands on the documents.

• この問もん題だいに手てをかけるのはまだ早はやい。

  It's too early to start working on this problem.

expression, ichidan verb

care for; look after

Implies giving careful attention or personal care to someone or something, often in a nurturing sense.

• 彼かの女じょは子こ供どもたちに手てをかけて育そだてた。

  She raised the children with great care.

• この庭にわは手てをかければかけるほど美うつくしくなる。

  The more you care for this garden, the more beautiful it becomes.

expression, ichidan verb

make off with; steal

A euphemistic or indirect way to say someone stole or took something dishonestly.

• 犯はん人にんは金きん庫こに手てをかけた。

  The culprit made off with the safe.

• 誰だれかが私わたしの財さい布ふに手てをかけたようだ。

  It seems someone stole my wallet.