The expression "Hands Down" is it just me?

[kmk1180]

Where did that expression come from anyway? It's very much an idiom, as I would have a very hard time explaining why we say that to a non-native speaker!

It's from horse racing. When a jockey was sure he would win, he would relax his grip and drop his hands down.

On a side note so is the term Upset.
Was the name of a horse that won a race that was a long odds to win.
Thus an Upset.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

When people say "hands down" I think of either
. . . cops - hands down on the car and spread your legs *
. . . others - hands down and swat that bug

* So, maybe too many experiences while in college.

 

[Nadjalu]

I say and use the term all the time.........

But then again I am a huge horse racing fan.