Get out of hand

Are you using the idiom Get out of hand but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the Get out of hand idiom and the situations in which it is used.

Meaning of "Get out of hand"

Meaning

The phrase "get out of hand" is an idiom which generally describes a situation that has grown either chaotic or uncontrollable. It implies that the situation has reached a point where it is no longer possible to easily regain control or order. It is often used to describe situations where the process in question is spiraling out of control, and has become too chaotic or unpredictable to be effectively managed.

Etymology

The phrase "get out of hand" first appeared in English in the early 19th century and likely derives from the nautical term "hand"- which was used to refer to the ropes used to guide a ship. The phrase likely originated as a reference to these ropes becoming tangled or unrestrained and thus "out of hand".

Usage

The phrase "get out of hand" is often used in situations that involve large groups of people or complex processes. It can be used to describe situations where people are not respecting rules, boundaries, or processes that had been previously established. It is also often used to describe situations where the actions of a group of people have resulted in chaos. For example, a teacher may say that a classroom has "gotten out of hand" if the students become too rowdy and start to disrupt the class. Alternatively, it can be used to describe situations where a project or task has become unmanageable due to unexpected or unpredictable complications. For example, if a project requires a high level of precision and detail, but the process starts to become too complex to manage properly, then one could say that the situation has "gotten out of hand".

Example Sentences

• The project had been going smoothly until it suddenly got out of hand and we realized it was too late to make any changes.
• The meeting got out of hand when everyone started shouting over each other.
• The party was fun until it got out of hand and the police had to be called.
• She had been handling the situation well, but it eventually got out of hand and she had to call for help.

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.