Grammar fix

hold hands

touch hands

to gently take and keep someone’s hand in yours, usually to show affection, comfort, or support

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

The little girl held her mother’s hand as they crossed the street.relationships
When I was a child, my grandmother would always hold my hand when we walked to school, which made me feel safe and loved.IELTS speaking

Pattern: hold hands (with someone)

WrongThey were holding their hands.

RightThey were holding hands.

The idiom is 'hold hands' (no 'their') when two people hold each other's hands. 'Hold their hands' means hold someone else's.

Patternhold hands (with someone)

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The couple were clasping each other's hands as they walked.

Natural The couple were holding hands as they walked.

'Hold hands' is the fixed everyday phrase. 'Clasping each other's hands' is overwritten.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not the same as 'shake hands', which is a greeting.