Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To handle roughly.
  • transitive verb To move or handle by manpower alone.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Nautical, to move by force of men, without levers or tackles; hence, to handle roughly; pull and push about, as a person, in anger or in sport.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To move, or manage, by human force without mechanical aid.
  • transitive verb To handle roughly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive, nautical To move something heavy by force of men, without aid of levers, pulleys, machine, or tackles.
  • verb transitive To assault or beat up a person.
  • verb transitive To mishandle; to handle roughly; to mangle.
  • verb transitive To control (a machine, vehicle, situation, etc.) by means of physical strength.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb handle roughly

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From man (“male person”) +‎ handle.

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Examples

  • Glyn's an intelligent man, and he must realise that those of us who usually value his blog thought this one was pretty lame precisely because it did what Glyn usually doesn;t do: namely manhandle the facts for grotty party political advantage.

    Plaid Cymru bloggers at the helm 2008

  • Where the hell does Dr. Helen get off, pretending that pinning a guy headed for a manhandle is the same as beating a guy who called you a name?

    Follow-up on “Don’t Piss Off Krissy” « Whatever 2006

  • COLLINS: ... that the police did not -- quote -- "manhandle" Michael Jackson as Michael Jackson had claimed that they did.

    CNN Transcript Aug 16, 2004 2004

  • It's tough to go to him on some plays, because you know he's just going to grab that receiver and kind of manhandle him and boss him around. "

    Rocky Top Talk rustytanton 2010

  • July 23rd, 2009 9: 26 pm ET only the rush limbaugh party and the fascists police would agree its ok to manhandle an elderly weakling.

    Obama stands by 'acted stupidly' comment 2009

  • "They pulled me outside in the freezing cold in my underwear, manhandle my wife, point a gun at my daughter and they won't even tell me what they are doing in my house," David McKay, father of the family, toldThe Journal News.

    Police Terrorize 13-Year-Old Girl In Botched Pot Bust, Family Says The Huffington Post 2011

  • "YOU WERE INSIDE!" they shout –and despite her showing no apparent attempts to resist, they manhandle her into a side entrance with the respect normally afforded to bank robber, not a customer.6.19pm: Back to Times Square, which is overflowing into the streets around with thousands of protesters.

    Occupy Wall Street live: march on Times Square 2011

  • "Coach James always said if you're worrying about your defense after the spring game, then you've got problems in the summer," Pinkel said after watching his first-team defense mostly manhandle the No. 2 offensive unit.

    Around the Big12 Conference 2010

  • Oher (pronounced "or") is a quiet, reserved man who speaks loudly on the field, where he has demonstrated the ability to absolutely out-quick, outmuscle and totally manhandle opponents.

    Peak performers: O-line likely to produce bumper draft class again 2009

  • I guarantee he still has the support of the left, he just needs to manhandle these republicans and do what was asked of him nov 4th.

    Will ‘SNL’ skit sink hopes for Obama? 2009

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