- Means easily, without effort, or clearly and indisputably the best or winner.
Explanation
Origin
- Believed to originate from horse racing in the 19th century.
- A jockey who is winning easily, far ahead of the competition, can relax their grip on the reins and lower their hands (hands down) as they cross the finish line, indicating an effortless victory.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- No contest
- By a mile (indicates a large margin of victory/superiority)
- It's not even close
- Clearly
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fuckin' easily (Crude emphasis on ease)
- Blew them the fuck away (Crude emphasis on dominance)
Milder/Standard:
- Clearly the best/worst
- Undoubtedly
- Without question
Situational Appropriateness
- Widely used in informal and semi-formal contexts.
- Common in expressing opinions, reviews, or describing competitions. Avoid in highly formal academic or scientific writing where objectivity is paramount.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might be confused by the literal image of hands being down. Explain it means easily or unquestionably.
Examples
- She is hands down the best singer in the competition.
- That was hands down the worst movie I've ever seen.
- He won the race hands down.
Dialogue
Sam: We need to decide on a caterer for the party.
Kim: Well, based on the tasting session yesterday, 'Gourmet Bites' was hands down the best.
Sam: You think so? I thought 'Creative Cuisine' had more interesting options.
Kim: Their presentation was nice, but the flavor from Gourmet Bites was just unbeatable, hands down. Everyone I spoke to agreed.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Hands down the best episode of the season so far! Mind blown. #TVShow #Finale
- Instagram Caption: This view is hands down the most beautiful I've ever seen. #Travel #Nature
- Reddit Comment: For budget headphones, these are hands down the best value for money.
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Totally! or I agree!
- Mild disagreement or offering another opinion: Really? I thought X was better.
- Asking for justification: What makes you say that?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone declares something hands down the best/worst:
- Others might share their own opinions or ask for reasons.
- The speaker might elaborate on why they feel so strongly.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used to strongly state an opinion or describe the ease of a victory within a conversation.
Intonation
- Emphasis is placed strongly on hands down, conveying certainty and lack of contest. That is HANDS DOWN the best pizza.
Generation Differences
- Common and well-understood across all generations.
Regional Variations
- Very common in American English. Also widely used and understood in other English-speaking countries (UK, Canada, Australia, etc.).