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get out of hand
/ɡɛt aʊt əv hænd/◆phrasal verb
become uncontrollable
The party got out of hand after midnight.
The party became chaotic and difficult to control after midnight.
informal
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.
Collocations
get out of hand quicklyto escalate rapidly into chaoslet something get out of handto allow a situation to become uncontrollable
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use 'get out of hand'
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.
Gold Rule
Subject focus
The subject of 'get out of hand' is always a situation, event, or group—not a single person or physical object.
Word Origin
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.
Usage Notes
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.
Word Breakdown
get
to become
verbout of
away from
prepositional phrasehand
control or authority
metaphorical nounEnglish Dictionary