A website that quotes another website says “hands down” comes from 19th century horse-racing, where a jockey, sure of victory, would relax as he crossed the finish line, with his hands holding the reins lowered. If that’s wrong, blame somebody who misquoted the OED.
A website that quotes another website says “hands down” comes from 19th century horse-racing, where a jockey, sure of victory, would relax as he crossed the finish line, with his hands holding the reins lowered. If that’s wrong, blame somebody who misquoted the OED.