verb phrase🎓 English idiom
get out of hand
to become uncontrollable
What it means
To become impossible to control or manage, often growing worse quickly. It describes situations, behaviour, or costs that escalate beyond a reasonable limit.
Words like “get out of hand” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- The party got out of hand once strangers started arriving uninvited.
- We need to act before these expenses get completely out of hand.
- The argument got out of hand and several people ended up shouting.
- Left unchecked, small rumours can quickly get out of hand at work.
Where it comes from
From the imagery of holding reins "in hand" to control a horse; losing that grip meant the animal was no longer under control.
Related idioms
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