Thread: рукой подать

Originally Posted by wonlon

But which meaning is for подать?
подавать

I don't think the logic of this idiom can be explaned via the modern meanings of the words. In general, подать is «to give or move something to some person on his/her request or demand», and I see no reason why that verb is used here.
If we constructed such phrase in the modern language, it should be рукой достать - "can be reached with hand", but we don't say so.