be able to count (someone or something) on one hand

be able to count (someone or something) on one hand

An expression used to emphasize that something is scarce, lacking, or rare. I don't know what classes to sign up for next semester. I could count the number of ones I'm actually interested in on one hand.See also: able, count, hand, on, one

be able to count somebody/something on (the fingers of) one ˈhand

used to say that the total number of somebody/something is very small: She could count on the fingers of one hand the people she actually enjoyed being with.See also: able, count, hand, on, one, somebody, something