'Out of hand' definitions:
Definition of 'out of hand'
From: WordNet
adverb
Out of control; "the riots got out of hand" [syn: out of hand, beyond control] [ant: in hand]
Definition of 'Out of hand'
From: GCIDE
- Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. Hunt.]
- 1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus. [1913 Webster]
- 2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as: (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey. (b) An index or pointer on a dial; as, the hour or minute hand of a clock. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Side; part; direction, either right or left. [1913 Webster]
- On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex. xxxviii. 15. [1913 Webster]
- The Protestants were then on the winning hand. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity. [1913 Webster]
- He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
- 6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance. [1913 Webster]
- To change the hand in carrying on the war. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
- Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. --Judges vi. 36. [1913 Webster]
- 7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand at speaking. [1913 Webster]
- A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. --Hazlitt. [1913 Webster]
- 8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or running hand. Hence, a signature. [1913 Webster]
- I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril. [1913 Webster]
- 9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand one year's tribute." --Knolles. [1913 Webster]
- Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 10. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as, to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer's hand, or when not new. [1913 Webster]
- 11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch." --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- 12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as: (a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the dealer. (b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together. [1913 Webster]
- 13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as: (a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the head, which implies thought, and the heart, which implies affection. "His hand will be against every man." --Gen. xvi. 12. (b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures. "With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you." --Ezek. xx. 33. (c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to give the right hand. (d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the hand; to pledge the hand. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand; as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe: used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following paragraph are written either as two words or in combination. [1913 Webster]
- Hand bag, a satchel; a small bag for carrying books, papers, parcels, etc.
- Hand basket, a small or portable basket.
- Hand bell, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell. --Bacon.
- Hand bill, a small pruning hook. See 4th Bill.
- Hand car. See under Car.
- Hand director (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a good position of the hands and arms when playing on the piano; a hand guide.
- Hand drop. See Wrist drop.
- Hand gallop. See under Gallop.
- Hand gear (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine, or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power, may be operated by hand.
- Hand glass. (a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of plants. (b) A small mirror with a handle.
- Hand guide. Same as Hand director (above).
- Hand language, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.
- Hand lathe. See under Lathe.
- Hand money, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest money.
- Hand organ (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank turned by hand.
- Hand plant. (Bot.) Same as Hand tree (below). -- {Hand rail}, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. --Gwilt.
- Hand sail, a sail managed by the hand. --Sir W. Temple.
- Hand screen, a small screen to be held in the hand.
- Hand screw, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp.
- Hand staff (pl. Hand staves), a javelin. --Ezek. xxxix. 9.
- Hand stamp, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or canceling papers, envelopes, etc.
- Hand tree (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico (Cheirostemon platanoides), having red flowers whose stamens unite in the form of a hand.
- Hand vise, a small vise held in the hand in doing small work. --Moxon.
- Hand work, or Handwork, work done with the hands, as distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.
- All hands, everybody; all parties.
- At all hands, On all hands, on all sides; from every direction; generally.
- At any hand, At no hand, in any (or no) way or direction; on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand consisting with the safety and interests of humility." --Jer. Taylor.
- At first hand, At second hand. See def. 10 (above).
- At hand. (a) Near in time or place; either present and within reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand; I hear his trumpet." --Shak. (b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at hand." --Shak.
- At the hand of, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?" --Job ii. 10.
- Bridle hand. See under Bridle.
- By hand, with the hands, in distinction from instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand.
- Clean hands, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." --Job xvii. 9.
- From hand to hand, from one person to another.
- Hand in hand. (a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. --Swift. (b) Just; fair; equitable.
- As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison. --Shak.
- Hand over hand, Hand over fist, by passing the hands alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand over hand.
- Hand over head, negligently; rashly; without seeing what one does. [Obs.] --Bacon.
- Hand running, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand running.
- Hands off! keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!
- Hand to hand, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to hand contest. --Dryden.
- Heavy hand, severity or oppression.
- In hand. (a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . . a far greater reward hereafter." --Tillotson. (b) In preparation; taking place. --Chaucer. "Revels . . . in hand." --Shak. (c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction; as, he has the business in hand.
- In one's hand or In one's hands. (a) In one's possession or keeping. (b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my hand.
- Laying on of hands, a form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.
- Light hand, gentleness; moderation.
- Note of hand, a promissory note.
- Off hand, Out of hand, forthwith; without delay, hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to be hanged up out of hand." --Spenser.
- Off one's hands, out of one's possession or care.
- On hand, in present possession; as, he has a supply of goods on hand.
- On one's hands, in one's possession care, or management.
- Putting the hand under the thigh, an ancient Jewish ceremony used in swearing.
- Right hand, the place of honor, power, and strength.
- Slack hand, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.
- Strict hand, severe discipline; rigorous government.
- To bear a hand (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten.
- To bear in hand, to keep in expectation with false pretenses. [Obs.] --Shak.
- To be hand and glove with or To be hand in glove with. See under Glove.
- To be on the mending hand, to be convalescent or improving.
- To bring up by hand, to feed (an infant) without suckling it.
- To change hand. See Change.
- To change hands, to change sides, or change owners. --Hudibras.
- To clap the hands, to express joy or applause, as by striking the palms of the hands together.
- To come to hand, to be received; to be taken into possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday.
- To get hand, to gain influence. [Obs.]
- Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them. --Baxter.
- To get one's hand in, to make a beginning in a certain work; to become accustomed to a particular business.
- To have a hand in, to be concerned in; to have a part or concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in.
- To have in hand. (a) To have in one's power or control. --Chaucer. (b) To be engaged upon or occupied with.
- To have one's hands full, to have in hand all that one can do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with difficulties.
- To have the (higher) upper hand, or {To get the (higher) upper hand}, to have, or get, the better of another person or thing.
- To his hand, To my hand, etc., in readiness; already prepared. "The work is made to his hands." --Locke.
- To hold hand, to compete successfully or on even conditions. [Obs.] --Shak.
- To lay hands on, to seize; to assault.
- To lend a hand, to give assistance.
- To lift the hand against, or {To put forth the hand against}, to attack; to oppose; to kill.
- To live from hand to mouth, to obtain food and other necessaries as want compels, without previous provision.
- To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit.
- To put the hand unto, to steal. --Ex. xxii. 8.
- To put the last hand to or To put the finishing hand to, to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect.
- To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake.
- That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to. --Deut. xxiii. 20.
- To stand one in hand, to concern or affect one.
- To strike hands, to make a contract, or to become surety for another's debt or good behavior.
- To take in hand. (a) To attempt or undertake. (b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand.
- To wash the hands of, to disclaim or renounce interest in, or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash one's hands of a business. --Matt. xxvii. 24.
- Under the hand of, authenticated by the handwriting or signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and seal of the owner. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'out of hand'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abandoned,
- ad lib,
- at short notice,
- at sight,
- beyond control,
- breachy,
- by ear,
- contumacious,
- defiant,
- extemporaneously,
- extemporarily,
- extempore,
- fractious,
- go-go,
- immoderate,
- impromptu,
- incontinent,
- incorrigible,
- indocile,
- indomitable,
- indulgent,
- insuppressible,
- intemperate,
- intractable,
- irrepressible,
- lax,
- licentious,
- loose,
- nonrestrictive,
- obstreperous,
- off the cuff,
- off the hip,
- offhand,
- on sight,
- out of control,
- permissive,
- rampant,
- recalcitrant,
- refractory,
- reinless,
- resistant,
- resisting,
- restive,
- riotous,
- shrewish,
- unbiddable,
- unbridled,
- unchecked,
- uncoerced,
- uncompelled,
- unconstrained,
- uncontrollable,
- uncontrolled,
- uncurbed,
- unforced,
- ungovernable,
- ungoverned,
- uninhibited,
- unmalleable,
- unmanageable,
- unmastered,
- unmeasured,
- unmoldable,
- unmuzzled,
- unreined,
- unrepressed,
- unreserved,
- unrestrained,
- unrestrictive,
- unruly,
- unsubdued,
- unsubmissive,
- unsuppressed,
- wanton,
- wild
Words containing 'Out of hand'
- All hands,
- At all hands,
- At any hand,
- At hand,
- At no hand,
- At the hand of,
- By hand,
- From hand to hand,
- Hand,
- Hand in hand,
- Hand over hand,
- Hand to hand,
- Handed,
- Handing,
- Hands off,
- In hand,
- Off hand,
- On all hands,
- On hand,
- To hand down,
- To hand over,
- To have a hand in,
- To have in hand,
- To his hand,
- To my hand,
- Under the hand of,
- hand down,
- hand in,
- hand on,
- hand out,
- hand over,
- handed down,
- handful,
- handfuls,
- handing over,
- hands,
- hands down,
- have in hand,
- on the other hand,
- hand-in-hand,
- hand-to-hand,
- At first hand,
- At second hand,
- Black Hand,
- Bloody hand,
- Both-hands,
- Bow hand,
- Bridle hand,
- Cap in hand,
- Clean hands,
- Comparison of hands,
- Court hand,
- Cursive hand,
- Dead hand,
- Deck hand,
- Devil's hand,
- Elder hand,
- Eldest hand,
- Engrossing hand,
- Foremast hand,
- Full hand,
- Green hand,
- Hand County,
- Hand bag,
- Hand basket,
- Hand bell,
- Hand bill,
- Hand car,
- Hand director,
- Hand drop,
- Hand gallop,
- Hand gear,
- Hand glass,
- Hand goniometer,
- Hand grenade,
- Hand guide,
- Hand language,
- Hand lathe,
- Hand lead,
- Hand money,
- Hand organ,
- Hand over fist,
- Hand over head,
- Hand plant,
- Hand running,
- Hand sail,
- Hand screen,
- Hand screw,
- Hand staff,
- Hand stamp,
- Hand staves,
- Hand tree,
- Hand vise,
- Hand work,
- Hand, SD,
- Heart and hand,
- Heavy hand,
- Hour hand,
- In one's hand,
- In one's hands,
- Index hand,
- Laying on of hands,
- Light hand,
- Minute hand,
- Note of hand,
- Off one's hands,
- On one's hands,
- Right hand,
- Round hand,
- Second hand,
- Show of hands,
- Slack hand,
- Sleight of hand,
- Small hand,
- Spear hand,
- Strict hand,
- Taut hand,
- Text hand,
- The upper hand,
- To be hand and glove with,
- To be hand in glove with,
- To be on the mending hand,
- To bear a hand,
- To bear in hand,
- To bring up by hand,
- To change hand,
- To change hands,
- To clap hands,
- To clap the hands,
- To come to hand,
- To get hand,
- To give the hand,
- To give the hand of,
- To grease in the hand,
- To grease the hand,
- To have one's handful,
- To hold hand,
- To hold in hand,
- To lay hands on,
- To lend a hand,
- To lie on hand,
- To lift the hand against,
- To lift up the hand,
- To lift up the hand against,
- To put the hand to,
- To set the hand to,
- To shake hands,
- To stand in hand,
- To strike hands,
- To strike hands with,
- To take in hand,
- To wash the hands of,
- Whip hand,
- With a high hand,
- bare handed,
- big hand,
- bridge hand,
- cash in hand,
- change hands,
- close at hand,
- come to hand,
- empty handed,
- field hand,
- free hand,
- give a hand,
- glad hand,
- hand and foot,
- hand and glove,
- hand ax,
- hand axe,
- hand blower,
- hand brake,
- hand calculator,
- hand cheese,
- hand clapping,
- hand clasp,
- hand cream,
- hand drill,
- hand fern,
- hand in glove,
- hand job,
- hand line,
- hand lotion,
- hand luggage,
- hand mirror,
- hand mower,
- hand pump,
- hand puppet,
- hand saw,
- hand shovel,
- hand throttle,
- hand to mouth,
- hand tool,
- hand towel,
- hand truck,
- hand wear,
- hand-down,
- hand-me-down,
- hand-out,
- hand-to-hand struggle,
- handed-down,
- hands-down,
- hands-off,
- hands-on,
- heavy handed,
- helping hand,
- high handed,
- hired hand,
- iron hand,
- lay hands on,
- left hand,
- left handed,
- lend a hand,
- little hand,
- lone hand,
- off-hand,
- old hand,
- on one hand,
- on the one hand,
- poker hand,
- ranch hand,
- ready to hand,
- red handed,
- running hand,
- section hand,
- shake hands,
- single handed,
- sweep hand,
- upper hand,
- Double-handed,
- Fast-handed,
- First-hand,
- Four-in-hand,
- Free-hand,
- Free-handed,
- Hand County, SD,
- Hand-tight,
- Hand-winged,
- Hard-handed,
- High-handed,
- Horny-handed,
- Large-handed,
- Left-hand,
- Left-handed,
- Light-handed,
- Lily-handed,
- Putting the hand under the thigh,
- Red-hand,
- Red-handed,
- Right-hand,
- Right-handed,
- Short-handed,
- Sinister-handed,
- Strait-handed,
- Text-hand,
- Three-handed,
- To fall into one's hands,
- To get one's hand in,
- To have one's hands full,
- To have the cards in one's own hands,
- To have the higher upper hand,
- To keep one's hand in,
- To lie on one's hands,
- To live from hand to mouth,
- To make one's hand,
- To play into a person's hands,
- To put forth the hand against,
- To put the finishing hand to,
- To put the hand unto,
- To put the last hand to,
- To stand one in hand,
- To turn one's hand to,
- Two-hand,
- Two-handed,
- Wing-handed,
- clean-handed,
- dead hand of the past,
- empty-handed,
- ham-handed,
- hand-brake,
- hand-build,
- hand-craft,
- hand-crafted,
- hand-dye,
- hand-held,
- hand-hewn,
- hand-hole,
- hand-loomed,
- hand-operated,
- hand-pick,
- hand-picked,
- hand-to-mouth,
- hand-wash,
- hand-written,
- heavy-handed,
- high-handedly,
- keep one's hands off,
- light-handedly,
- mill-hand,
- one-handed,
- red hand defenders,
- right hand man,
- single-handed,
- single-handedly,
- sure-handed,
- wash one's hands,
- Free-hand drawing,
- Hand-hole plate,
- Left-hand rope,
- Left-handed marriage,
- Left-handed screw,
- Right-hand rope,
- Right-handed screw,
- To change a horse or To change hand,
- To get the higher upper hand,
- To lay hands on one's self,
- hand-held computer,
- hand-held microcomputer,
- hand-loomed handwoven,
- left-handed pitcher,
- right-hand man,
- right-handed pitcher,
- second-hand speech,
- second-hand store,
- two-handed backhand,
- two-handed saw,
- wash-hand basin,
- wash-hand stand,
- white-handed gibbon,
- To lay violent hands on one's self,
- hand-schuller-christian disease