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general::
Phrase(s): (with) hat in hand
Fig. with humility. (Fig. on the image of someone standing, respectfully, in front of a powerful person, asking for a favor.) • She stormed off but came back with hat in hand when she ran out of money. • We had to go hat in hand to the committee to get a grant for our proposal.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs