out of hand
Meaning
Out of control; not being managed effectively (often worsening quickly).
Origin
From the literal sense of something slipping from one’s hand or grasp, extended metaphorically to situations no longer under a person’s control. Recorded in English from at least the 1700s.
Notes
Usually negative: a situation escalates beyond control. Most common in “get out of hand” and “things got out of hand.” Suitable in casual and formal contexts.
Examples
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The meeting got out of hand when everyone started shouting at once.
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If we don’t address the bug now, the problem could quickly get out of hand.
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His joking went out of hand and ended up offending a few people.
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The fire spread out of hand before the firefighters could contain it.
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The kids’ excitement got out of hand, and they knocked over a lamp.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Often predicative: “(It) got out of hand.” Also in phrases like “keep/bring (something) under control before it gets out of hand.” Less common attributively, but possible: “an out-of-hand rejection” is different/rare and can mean “immediate.”
Synonyms
- out of control
- unmanageable
- runaway
- unchecked
Antonyms
- under control
- manageable
- contained