hand down
hand down
1. To hand something to someone who is physically below oneself. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hand" and "down." While you're on the stepstool, can you hand down the cake mix from the top shelf?
2. To announce a decision. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hand" and "down." When do you think the boss will hand down a decision on this issue?
3. To yield or give something to a younger person, often a relative. A noun or pronoun can be used between "hand" and "down." I always have to wear the clothes that my older sisters hand down to me.
See also: down, hand
hands down
Easily, decisively, or without question. The term originates from horse racing, in which jockeys assured of a victory may lower their hold on the reins in the final stretch. This is the best pie I've ever had, hands down! We were really unprepared for our last game, and the other team won hands down.
See also: down, hand
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hand something down
(to someone)1. Lit. to pass something to a person on a lower level. Hand this wrench down to the man under the sink. Please hand down this wrench.
2. Fig. to give something to a younger person. (Either at death or during life.) John handed his old shirts down to his younger brother. I hope my uncle will hand down his golf clubs to me when he dies.
3. Fig. to announce or deliver a (legal) verdict or indictment. The grand jury handed seven indictments down last week. The jury handed down a guilty verdict.
See also: down, hand
hands down
easily; unquestionably. She won the contest hands down. They declared her the winner hands down.
See also: down, hand
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
hand down
1. Bequeath to one's heirs, as in The silver and jewels have been handed down from generation to generation in that family . [Late 1600s]
2. Make and pronounce an official decision, especially the verdict of a court. For example, The judge wasted no time in handing down a sentence of contempt of court. [First half of 1900s] Also see hand on; hand over.
See also: down, hand
hands down
1. Also, in a breeze; in a walk. Easily, without effort, as in She won the election hands down, or They won in a breeze, 10-0, or The top players get through the first rounds of the tournament in a walk. All of these expressions originated in sports. Hands down, dating from the mid-1800s, comes from horse racing, where jockeys drop their hands downward and relax their hold when they are sure to win. In a breeze, first recorded in a baseball magazine in 1910, alludes to the rapid and easy passage of moving air; in a walk, also from baseball, alludes to taking a base on balls, that is, reaching first base without having hit a pitched ball because of the pitcher's mistakes.
2. Unquestionably, without a doubt, as in Hands down, it was the best thing I've ever done.
See also: down, hand
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
hands down
(especially of winning) easily and decisively.Originally a horse-racing expression, win hands down meant that a jockey was so certain of victory in the closing stages of a race that he could lower his hands, thereby relaxing his hold on the reins and ceasing to urge on his horse.
See also: down, hand
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hand down
v.
1. To pass something down from a higher level to a lower one: Please hand that vase down to me while you're up there. The worker on the scaffold handed down the paint can to the assistant.
2. To pass something on to someone, especially a younger relative: My older brother hands all his old clothes down to me. My aunt handed down her necklaces to me. The house has been handed down from generation to generation.
3. To make and pronounce an official decision, especially a court verdict: The jury handed down the verdict. The court handed a decision down yesterday.
See also: down, hand
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
hands down
mod. easily; unquestionably. She won the contest hands down.
See also: down, hand
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
hands down
1. With no trouble; easily.
2. Indisputably; unquestionably.
See also: down, hand
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
hands down
Easily, without effort. The term comes from racing, where a jockey may drop his hands and relax his hold on the reins when he is sure to win the race. Dating from the mid-nineteenth century, the term still is used with regard to various kinds of competition, as in, “She won the nomination hands down.”
See also: down, hand
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- hands down
- hands up
- hand up
- hand up (to someone)
- hand on
- hand in
- hand off to (someone)
- hand out
- handout
- hand back to (someone)