Meaning of "out of hand"

[Haihao]

Hi! Cannot out of hand mean quickly?

[Alan]

Hi,

No. It means not acceptable

A
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[canadian45]

hi Haihao (are you Chinese?)

Right now I can think of two meanings of out of hand; one is very similar to quickly and one is very similar to unacceptable.

1...He dismissed your suggestion out of hand. Here out of hand means "quickly, without much if any thought". Maybe he immediately thought it was a goofy suggestion or maybe he just doesn't like taking suggestions from you.

2...His drinking is getting out of hand. Here the meaning is "quite bad, troublesome, unacceptable". His drinking (of alcohol) is starting to affect his behavior, his relationships, his work,etc.

[Alan]

Hi,

I mentioned the idea that out of hand had the idea that something was not acceptable. It doesn't really associate itself with quickly although the process of something being considered out of hand may not take long. That is however coincidental. If someone dismisses your plan/idea out of hand, they do not consider that plan any further and give it no consideration.

Alan
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[Tamara]

Can I ask a bit more? (just to summarise for myself the above discussion)

get out of hand = get beyond control, (badly, unacceptable)

but
go (or do smth) out of hand = do (smth) impromptu, quickly, not thinking long and not concerning too much about quality of the result. Just do.

Is that right/acceptable? makes any sense?
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[Yankee]

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From Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 10th Edition:

- out of hand

1 : without delay or deliberation; also : in a summary or peremptory manner "rejected the plan out of hand"

2 : done with : FINISHED

3 : out of control

4 : with the hands "fruit eaten out of hand"

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From Dictionary.com:

76. out of hand

a. beyond control: to let one's temper get out of hand.

b. without delay; at once: The crisis obliged him to act out of hand.

c. no longer in process; finished: The case has been out of hand for some time.

d. without consideration or deliberation: to reject a proposal out of hand.

http://www.onelook.com/?w=out+of+hand&ls=a

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From the Compact Oxford English Dictionary:

out of hand

1 not under control.
2 without taking time to think.

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I think that ought to just about cover things (at least from the dictionary point of view).
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

Definitely worthy of a 'dead parrot' comment.

A
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[Yankee]

Good morning, Alan

I'd just like to mention that I couldn't find any dictionary definition using the word "quickly" to define "out of hand".

And rightly so, in my opinion.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]

[Alan]

Hi Conchita,

Yes, it was an allusion to the dead parrot sketch. I was just trying to be funny and I'm not sure it worked. Never mind.

A
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[Tom]

[Conchita]

[Conchita]

[canadian45]

yankee

You have to be joking! Please explain to me how quickly is not very similar to "without delay; at once".

[Yankee]

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Of course there is a similarity, Canadian45.
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From the American Heritage Dictionary:

out of hand
1. Out of control: Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.
2. At once; immediately.
3. Over and done with; finished.
4. Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet.

Now, why don't we just let the poor dead parrot rest in peace?
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English