ask (someone) for (one's) hand

ask (someone) for (one's) hand

To request permission to marry one, as from their father or family. Please tell me that you asked my father for my hand before you proposed to me.See also: ask, hand

ask for/win somebody’s hand

(old-fashioned) ask for/get permission to marry somebody: ‘Did John ask your father for your hand?’ ‘No. Nobody does that any more, do they?’See also: ask, hand, win