2006-09-10 04:13:01 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
A jockey who wins a race 'hands down' is so far ahead of the field that he doesn't have to flick the reins to urge his horse forward and crosses the finish line with his hands down, letting up on the reins.
2006-09-10 04:16:48 · answer #1 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good guesses so far, one may be right.
I'll posit that it's in the voting process. An item is so popular it doesn't need a vote by a show of hands -- so it wins "hands down".
Fun question, I'll be back to see the other guesses.
2006-09-10 11:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by wrathofkublakhan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it refers to card games, 'hands down' meaning 'cards on the table', which is equivelant to 'all things considered'.
2006-09-10 11:15:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋