get out of hand
Meaning: To become impossible to control.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The water fight got out of hand and soaked the kitchen.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Reins held in the hand control a horse; letting them slip means losing control. The phrase is found from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Spanish: irse de las manos — literally: to go away from the hands
- Dutch: uit de hand lopen — literally: to run out of hand
More idioms — Body & Senses
- bang one's head against a brick wall — To keep trying something with no result.
- get off on the right foot — To make a good start.
- turn one's back on someone — To abandon or refuse to help someone.
- one's heart sinks — To feel sudden disappointment or dread.
- shoulder to shoulder — Side by side, working together.
- tread carefully — To act with great caution in a delicate situation.
More English idioms
- there are no two ways about it — The matter admits no doubt or alternative.
- a dime a dozen — So common as to be worth very little.
- fire the starting gun — To signal the official start of something.
- come what may — Whatever happens.
- have a whale of a time — To enjoy oneself enormously.
- have plenty left in the tank — To still have energy or resources in reserve.
From our compliments & insults
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) — You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- T'as pas inventé le fil à couper le beurre — You're not exactly a genius — the wire to cut butter is about the most obvious tool imagi…
- Tête de mule — An impossibly stubborn person who refuses to change their mind no matter what.