Meaning of Idiom ‘Hands Down’
Hands down means very easily; without any effort; without doubt or beyond any question; or absolutely.
Hands down is used as an adverb. It is often used in regards to winning something easily as in, “Last time I beat you hands down. What makes you think you can win now?”
Do not confuse ‘hands down,’ which uses the plural of hand, with hand something down, a completely different idiom. To hand something down means to pass on something, such as a precious possession, a belief, or a tradition, from one generation to the next, such as a mother passing a family heirloom to her daughter.
Origin of ‘Hands Down’
This idiom has been used since the mid-1800s. It comes from horse racing and alludes to how jockeys would drop their hands down and relax their grip when they were sure they were going to win the race.
Video Presentation
Sentence Examples
“Climate change is hands down the biggest threat to the planet and to life.”
“Harry Connick Jr. is hands down a genius. I saw him switch from 4/4 time to 5/4 in the middle of a tune just so the crowd’s clapping would fall on the right beats.”
“I wish they gave out a gold medal for clumsiness. I’d win it hands down.”
“We have to go there to eat. It’s hands down the best rib joint in town.”
“As usual, he beat me hands down. But I’ve been practicing and I’ll win eventually.”