Idiom
Get Out of Hand: Origin and Meaning
Meaning
When a thing or a situation becomes difficult to control.
Origin
This phrase originated from horse riding. If a rider did not hold on to the reins correctly, the horse would become out of control. In other words, if the rider let the reins get out of his hands, the horse would “get out of hand”.
This phrase originated from horse riding. If a rider did not hold on to the reins correctly, the horse would become out of control. In other words, if the rider let the reins get out of his hands, the horse would “get out of hand”.Examples
“Two kids had a fight in my classroom yesterday and it got out of hand. One of them ended up with a broken leg!”
“Tom’s gambling problem is getting out of hand. He’s lost ten thousand pounds this month but he’s still gambling every day.”
Jacob: “Sorry I didn’t come to the party. How was it?”
Mike: “It was good but it got really out of hand towards the end. There was a hole in the wall, stains all over the carpet and someone broke the toilet!”
“Tom’s gambling problem is getting out of hand. He’s lost ten thousand pounds this month but he’s still gambling every day.”
Jacob: “Sorry I didn’t come to the party. How was it?”
Mike: “It was good but it got really out of hand towards the end. There was a hole in the wall, stains all over the carpet and someone broke the toilet!”
