Why is it "shake them by the hand"?

[Infin1ty]

Thank you very much, Amy.
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[EmmeTi]

Hi, I'm a newcomer and I'm Italian.
I read a lot in English, but, I cannot explain why, probably this come from my own language, to me the sentence "shake someone by the hand" sounds incredibly odd. I imagine a comic strip in which a big man takes a small man's hand and begins to shake him by his hand, sending him up and down. I really would have sworn that the sentence was wrong. Reading the comments it's clear *I was wrong*. This language will never end to surprise me

[Guermellou]

Hi Torsten,

can't we simply say?:

When you first meet someone, you usually shake his hand.

Many thanks

[Alan]

Hi,

You could also say 'shake someone's hand'.

Alan
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[Guermellou]

[Khanhphamqn]

Excuse me,
I have one question. My question is "When you first meet someone, you usually shake them in the hand."
So I am 100% sure I am wrong, But can you explain for me when we use preposition 'in'. Because we sometimes use for example "they speak each other in English"
Please help me. I will be grateful.
Thanks in advance.

[Mister Micawber]

.
The common preposition and adverb 'in' has many uses, Khan. You will just have to learn by observation and experience. Here is one dictionary's entry:

–preposition
1. (used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park.
2. (used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the autumn.
3. (used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes.
4. (used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance.
5. (used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French.
6. (used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into: Let's go in the house.
7. (used to indicate transition from one state to another): to break in half.
8. (used to indicate object or purpose): speaking in honor of the event.

–adverb
9. in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc.: Please come in.
10. on the inside; within.
11. in one's house or office.
12. in office or power.
13. in possession or occupancy.
14. having the turn to play, as in a game.
15. Baseball. (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short: The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt.
16. on good terms; in favor: He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last.
17. in vogue; in style: He says straw hats will be in this year.
18. in season: Watermelons will soon be in.
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[Luby]

Hi there,
I would like to know is this correct:when you first meet someone,you usually shake their hands.

[Alan]

Hi Luby,

'Shake their hand' (singular).

Alan
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[Luby]

Hi Alan,thanks for replying.
So,shake their hands isnt correct.

[Alan]

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You could say this if you were talking about more than one person as: He greeted everyone in the room and shook their hands.

Alan
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