give a handle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They contained themselves, knowing that the least indiscretion would give a handle for aggression to the enemies of the good cause.

From At Home And Abroad Or, Things And Thoughts In America and Europe by Fuller, Arthur B.

Over-subtlety in the leader of a party tends to perplex friends and give a handle to opponents.

From The Oxford Movement Twelve Years, 1833-1845 by Church, R. W. (Richard William)

So long as he does not give a handle to his enemies to be used against him, he is fairly contented to go on from year to year in a humdrum style.

From Twentieth Century Inventions A Forecast by Sutherland, George

All that could possibly give a handle to criticism," says Marmontel, who was present, "was groaned at or turned into ridicule.

From A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 6 by Black, Robert

At the same time he was equally quick to see that the acquisition would give "a handle to the malcontents."

From Union and Democracy by Johnson, Allen