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win hands down

Register · Informal CEFR B2
Post

Figurative meaning

to win easily, without effort

Why this phrase?

A winning jockey can relax his hands on the reins before the finish line; the phrase pictures victory so easy the winner lowers his hands.

Example

“She won the debate hands down.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Related idioms

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

force someone's hand Neutral · CEFR B2
To pressure someone into acting, often sooner than they had planned.
hand in glove Neutral · CEFR B2
working together in an extremely close and cooperative way
cap in hand Neutral · CEFR C1
in a humble or pleading manner when asking someone for help or a favor
sleight of hand Neutral · CEFR C1
clever and subtle trickery used to mislead people
a piece of cake Informal · CEFR A2
Something that is very easy to do.
smooth sailing Neutral · CEFR B1
easy, uninterrupted progress without problems

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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