How did the expression "hands down" come to mean "without a doubt?"
asked Jul 9, 2011 at 22:33
-
1It does not mean "without a doubt," nor does it mean "winning by a big margin." It means "able to win, without even making a big effort."– FattieCommented Jul 10, 2011 at 11:12
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
The phrase hands down comes from horse racing, as explained by The Phrase Finder:
Jockeys need to keep a tight rein in order to encourage their horse to run. Anyone who is so far ahead that he can afford to slacken off and still win he can drop his hands and loosen the reins - hence winning 'hands down'.
And confirmed by Etymonline:
To win something hands down (1867) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory.
I found this antedating of the phrase from The New Sporting Magazine, 1855:
And I found examples of the phrase being used figuratively in other contests by the early 1880s.
answered Jul 9, 2011 at 23:10
-
1
Meaning
Win easily, with little effort.
Origin
Jockeys need to keep a tight rein in order to encourage their horse to run. Anyone who is so far ahead that he can afford to slacken off and still win he can drop his hands and loosen the reins - hence winning 'hands down'. This is recorded from the mid 19th century. For example, 'Pips' Lyrics & Lays, 1867:
"There were good horses in those days, as he can well recall, But Barker upon Elepoo, hands down, shot by them all."
It began to be used in a figurative sense, to denote an easy win in other contexts, from the early 20th century.
(Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/win-hands-down.html)
-
I'll take that off. In my travels, I've heard it used as if in reference to a classroom setting, but I think that is simply incorrect. (answer edited). Commented Jul 10, 2011 at 23:01
It may very well be from horse racing, but "keeping a tight rein" is not to encourage a horse to run. A tight rein is restrictive. A horse is "given his head" in order for him to run freely. My suspicion, if horses are involved, is that "hands down" indicates that the jockey is relaxed, no longer in racing stance, having no need to further communicate with or guide the horse. My conjecture is that the term was from pugilism, predating horse racing. Boxing contests were often a series of contestants challenging the previous winner. The final winner would be the boxer that no one could beat. The first boxer could present himself for a match (take on all comers) but stand unchallenged due to his recognized superiority. He would have no need to raise his hands to fight and would, thus, win "hands down." I have not found an OED reference for "hands down" though "hands up!" is listed.
I think that it refers to hands down, like that when you're playing poker, you would throw your hand in betting everything, with no doubt you'd win.
Or at the end of a poker game when everyone reveals their hand of cards by laying them face up, down on the table and it is clear who has won.
-
1