¿De la mano?

Question

Es del libro 'Travesuras de la niña mala', por Vargas LLosa. ¿De la mano significa algo semejante a 'current' o 'of the day'? ¿Posible 'at hand'?

It's from the book 'Travesuras de la niña mala', by Vargas Llosa. De la mano means something like 'current' or 'of the day'?

Si llovía, nos metíamos a algún cine, y veíamos la película de la mano.

If it were raining, we went into some movie theater, and watched the current (?) movie.

Answer 1

I think not. It probably means "agarrados/cogidos de la mano"

Answer 2

Much better.

"agarrados/cogidos de la mano"

or

Google translates 'de la mano' as 'together'

It's probably either "holding hands" or just "together". Thanks.

Answer 3

Holding hands says a philologist fiend of mine.

Answer 4

Google translates 'de la mano' as 'together' - could that be right?

Amazing, Google is learning very much! It's becoming a great tool! - cogumela, Dec 29, 2010

"ir de la mano" is in our phrasebook. - pesta, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 5

The cited book in page 192 indicates the characters were reconciled, because they were smiling and "holding hands".

"...Se habían reconciliado, pues sonreían e iban cogidos de la mano."

Cogidos de la mano/ tomados de la mano/ de la mano = holding hands.

Ver la película de la mano, would be watching the movie holding hands.

Photographic memory! - afowen, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 6

An usual phrase that can be found in any dictionary:

de la mano.

1. loc. adv. Asidos de la mano.

asir

1. tr. Tomar o coger con la mano, y, en general, tomar, coger, prender.

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Answer 7

Kevin:

In our own dictionary and within the definition of the word hand we find:

1. (idioms) at hand -> a mano

I think your own guess "at hand" is correct. It is being used in the sense that:
"If we couldn't do what we wanted we did what was at hand. Here the film was at hand."

At hand here probably means 'available' as you have already suggested.

Ok, now I think I've come full circle. All 3 definitions you guys have given me make sense. I wish these darned Peruvians would speak proper Spanish. :-) - KevinB, Dec 29, 2010

Answer 8

Al contrario de lo que sucede en varios países latinoamericanos, los hombres heterosexuales a menudo caminan asidos del brazo o tamandose de la mano y se saludan con un beso en la mejilla.

here, "asidos del brazo" translates as "arm in arm."