Idiomatic expression 'be heavy on hand'

[Tamara]

Hi
Could you explain the meaning of the (idiomatic) expression, if you ever met/use it?

(be) heavy on hand

Can it be said about time?
Can it be applied to characterise a person?
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Jan]

Hi,
Maybe something like :
-difficult to achive
-not easy available

I have asked two English whose work with me,but they said without context they can't help.

"on hand" in my dictionary means:
close by , available

Regards
Jan

[Tamara]

Hi Jan,

I heard (it seems...) it as an equivalent 'time hangs heavy' (if I understood it right. Possibly, not. )

Also, one time I suspected that it was used to say something unpleasant about a person. Possibly () that he is boring and dull, or something like that.
Or, maybe it also was about the time (of conversation with that tedious and didactic person.)

But you all here know that sometimes I am too suspicious, unfounded
That's the reason, why I just ask.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Mister Micawber]

.
Do you have this confused with heavy-handed?
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Tamara]

[Mister Micawber]

.
Well, I have never heard or used heavy on hand, though I see it is in Roget's Thesaurus:

641. Redundance.
...VERB:
...wallow in; roll in (plenty) [See Sufficiency]; remain on one’s hands, hang heavy on hand, go a-begging or go begging; exaggerate [See Exaggeration].

Perhaps it is old-fashioned.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

I'd never heard (or used) "heavy on hand" or "hang heavy on hand" either.

About "heavy-handed"... I rarely (if ever) use that to mean clumsy. I always use it to mean tactless or harsh (as in definitions 2 + 3 in the link):
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/heavy-handed

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English