panhandle
PAN-han-duhl
/ˈpænhændəl/
To stop passersby on the street and beg for money or food.
Describes the act of asking strangers for spare change in public urban spaces.
The story behind the word. An American colloquialism coined in the late 19th century. It originated either from the physical image of extending an arm like the handle of a frying pan, or from holding out an actual metal pan to collect dropped coins.
Word relationships
- beg: Beg is the general term, whereas panhandle specifically describes soliciting money in public pedestrian areas.
- solicit: Solicit is formal and can apply to legitimate fundraising, sales, or prostitution as well as begging.
- donate: Donate means giving money or resources rather than asking for them.
Commonly confused with
- panhandle (geography): In geography, a panhandle is a narrow strip of territory projecting from a larger main area (e.g., Texas Panhandle).
Word family
- panhandler (noun): A person who begs for money in public places.
Collocations
- panhandle for change
- aggressively panhandle
- panhandle on street corners
Example sentences
- "Several individuals panhandle near the downtown subway station during evening rush hour." Urban Sociology
- "He learned to panhandle outside the diner to raise enough money for a warm meal." Modern Novel
Memory hook
Holding out your hand like a PAN HANDLE to collect coins. Arm extended like a PAN HANDLE.
When not to use
Do not use in formal legal documents where 'soliciting funds' or 'begging' is preferred.
Fun facts
- In US constitutional law, panhandling is considered a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, subject to reasonable time and place restrictions.
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