Where did the phrase "hands down" come from?

Question

. . . As in, Evander Holyfield is the best boxer in the history of the world, hands down.

Answer 1

"Hands down" is a term meaning "easily" or "with little or no effort."
The term dates back to the mid-19th century and the genteel world of British horse racing. Back then, a jockey who found himself way ahead as he approached the finish line would relax his grip on the reins and drop his hands. Not as confrontational as a spiked football, but still a bit of gestural in-your-face-ness. By the late 19th century, the idiom had been extended to non-racing contexts, and it remains in frequent use today.

Answer 2

Phrase Hands Down

Answer 3

Hands down," it seems, dates back to the mid-19th century and harks, not from card-playing or schoolyard fisticuffs, but from the genteel world of horseracing. A jockey nearing the finish line well ahead of the competition, with victory certain, would often relax his posture and drop his hands, relaxing his hold on the reins, as his steed galloped the final few yards. To win a race "hands down," therefore, was to win it easily, without any serious competition, and by the late 19th century the phrase was being used in non-racing contexts to mean "with no trouble at all."

Answer 4

"Hands down" is a term meaning "easily" or "with little or no effort." It's used most often in the context of a competition or comparison, as in the sentence "Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive is hands-down the most significant cultural event of the last decade." (Editors' Note: Sentence used for demonstration purposes only.)
We stumbled upon several wrong guesses, but just about all the etymological sites we came across agreed that the term dates back to the mid-19th century and the genteel world of British horse racing. Back then, a jockey who found himself way ahead as he approached the finish line would relax his grip on the reins and drop his hands. Not as confrontational as a spiked football, but still a bit of gestural in-your-face-ness. By the late 19th century, the idiom had been extended to non-racing contexts, and it remains in frequent use today.

Answer 5

It comes from the mid-19th century sport, horseracing . When a jockey was close to the finish line with no clance of being beaten, he would relax his posture and drop his hands (relax his hold on the reins) as his horse galloped the last few yards.

Answer 6

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Originally came from stealing livestock in olden days, "caught red-handed" as they had the blood on their hands.

Answer 7

It comes from horse racing. Jockeys need to keep a tight rein in order to encourage their horse to run. Anyone who is so far ahead that he can afford to slacken off and still win he can drop his hands and loosen the reins - hence winning 'hands down'

Answer 8

From the knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. When an armed warrior lowered his sword and shield, his answers were considered fully honest.

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Answer 9

It was coined just after WW1 from a German that was tired of touring paris and having French men surrendering to him. As In Please put your "Hands Down" the war is over.

Answer 10

when voting you raise a hand to show yes or no, if no hands are raised then the decisions is unanimous "hands down"