Synonyms for hand over fist

Grammar : Adv

Spell : hand

Phonetic Transcription : hænd

Définition of hand over fist

Origin : Old English hond, hand "hand; side; power, control, possession," from Proto-Germanic *khanduz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Dutch, German hand, Old Norse hönd, Gothic handus). The original Old English plural handa was superseded in Middle English by handen, later hands.
Meaning "person who does something with his hands" is from 1580s, hence "hired workman" (1630s) and "sailor in a ship's crew" (1660s). Clock and watch sense is from 1570s. Meaning "round of applause" is from 1838. The linear measure of 4 inches (originally 3) is from 1560s, now used only in giving the height of horses. The meaning "playing cards held in one player's hand" is from 1620s; that of "a round at a card game" is from 1620s.
First hand, second hand, etc. (mid-15c.) are from the notion of something being passed down from hand to hand. Out of hand (1590s) is opposite of in hand "under control" (c.1200). Hand over fist (1825) is suggestive of sailors and fishermen hauling in nets. Hand jive is from 1958. To win something hands down (1855) is from horse racing, from a jockey's gesture of letting the reins go loose in an easy victory.
The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes was not the best contested one that it has been our fortune to assist at. ... [T]hey were won by Meteor, with Scott for his rider; who went by the post with his hands down, the easiest of all easy half-lengths. Wiseacre certainly did the best in his power to spoil his position, and Misdeal was at one time a little vexatious. ["The Sportsman," report from April 26, 1840]
To hand it to (someone) "acknowledge someone's ability" is slang from c.1906. Phrase on the one hand ... on the other hand is recorded from 1630s, a figurative use of the physical sense of hand in reference to position on one side or the other side of the body (as in the lefthand side), which goes back to Old English Hands up! as a command from a policeman, robber, etc., is from 1873. Hand-to-mouth is from c.1500. Hand-in-hand attested from c.1500 as "with hands clasped;" figurative sense of "concurrently" recorded from 1570s.

adv at a tremendous rate

Example sentences :

The cholera year of 1832 seems to have made Methodists hand over fist.
Extract from : « The Damnation of Theron Ware » by Harold Frederic

Hes at the back of the bunch; a Shrewsburg fellows passing him hand over fist.
Extract from : « For the Honor of the School » by Ralph Henry Barbour

The red roadster was not only leaving the frightened herd behind, but was coming up with the cowboy, hand over fist.
Extract from : « Motor Matt's Race » by Stanley R. Matthews

It's a rather small, black craft, walking up on us hand over fist.
Extract from : « The North Pacific » by Willis Boyd Allen

In fact, he was getting rich, hand over fist, and was vastly respected.
Extract from : « A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Complete » by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Overhauling the fugitives, hand over fist, were two large biplanes.
Extract from : « The Dreadnought of the Air » by Percy F. Westerman

Now he commenced fur to gain on me, hand over fist; so I made up my mind to do somethin' desprit.
Extract from : « Harper's Round Table, June 25, 1895 » by Various

It's been standing for months and I happen to know that you are making money all the time, hand over fist.
Extract from : « The Boy Chums in the Gulf of Mexico » by Wilmer M. Ely

She has spent the best part of half a century equipping herself, hand over fist, for this kind of commercial contest.
Extract from : « The Curse of Education » by Harold E. Gorst

Some of de Niggers went on a buyin' spree, an' dey bought land, hand over fist.
Extract from : « Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves » by Work Projects Administration

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