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to become chaotic, uncontrollable, or difficult to manage
The meeting got out of hand when everyone started shouting.
The meeting became chaotic due to loud arguments.
The children's game got out of hand, and someone got hurt.
The children's game became too wild and resulted in an injury.
Commonly used to describe situations that escalate beyond control, often due to lack of regulation or excessive enthusiasm.
Use this phrase when a situation becomes chaotic or difficult to manage, especially due to lack of supervision or excessive behavior. Avoid using it for physical objects literally falling from hands.
The subject of 'get out of hand' is always a situation, event, or group—not a single person or physical object.
The phrase dates back to the early 19th century, combining 'get out' (to escape) with 'hand' (metaphorically representing control or authority). The imagery suggests something slipping from one's grasp, much like an object falling from a hand.
This phrasal verb is informal and used in everyday speech. It often implies a negative outcome where a situation becomes difficult to handle. The subject is typically a situation, event, or group of people.