idiom · formal
go cap in hand
UK/ɡəʊ kæp ɪn hænd/US/ɡoʊ kæp ɪn hænd/CAP·in·HAND
to go and ask someone for help or money in a very humble or apologetic way
Examples
“After the floods, many small shop owners had to go cap in hand to the council for emergency grants.”
“He didn't want to go cap in hand to his parents, but he had no choice.”
“If the business fails, we'll have to go cap in hand to investors.”
Band 8 sentence
“When the grant application was rejected, the charity had to go cap in hand to major donors to keep services running.”
Collocations
- go cap in hand to someone
- go cap in hand for help
Word family
Common mistakes
He went cap in hands to ask for money.→He went cap in hand to ask for money.
They had to go cap in hand with the bank.→They had to go cap in hand to the bank.
Say it for a higher band
5beg for help→6ask for help humbly→7+go cap in hand
Synonyms
ask for help humbly
Easily confused
ask for a favour
“When his business failed, he had to ask for a favour.”
Related words
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