get-out-of-hand
/ˌɡet ˌaʊt əv ˈhænd/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
If a situation gets out of hand, it becomes difficult to control. It often becomes worse than expected.
- The argument got out of hand.
- The party got out of hand late at night.
- We stopped it before things got out of hand.
Adinary Nuance
Get out of hand is stronger than bad or serious. It means a situation was once manageable, but then became hard to control. Writers often choose it for arguments, crowds, spending, or behavior that keeps growing worse.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mất kiểm soát
- Spanish
- salirse de control
- Chinese
- 失控
- Japanese
- 手に負えなくなる
- Korean
- 통제 불능이 되다
Etymology
This idiom comes from the idea of something slipping out of your hand, so you can no longer hold or control it. It has been used in English since the 20th century.
Common phrases
get out of hand quicklylet it get out of handbefore it gets out of hand
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is get out of hand formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in speech and writing. It is fine for emails, reports, and everyday conversation.
- Can I use get out of hand for a person?
- Usually, it describes a situation, argument, party, or behavior. For a person, English speakers usually say they are out of control.
- What is the difference between get out of hand and escalate?
- Get out of hand is more informal and vivid. Escalate is more formal and often used in news or business writing.