Idiom idiom
get out of hand
Meaning
Get out of control
Examples
“The party is starting to get out of hand.”
“The manager had to step in before the argument between the two customers could get out of hand.”
“What began as a minor disagreement over the budget quickly got out of hand, leading to a complete breakdown in communication between the two departments.”
Origin
disputed origin
disputed origin
From horsemanship: a horse gets 'out of hand' when the rider loses control of the reins held in the hand.
Last updated June 7, 2026