What does "out of hand" mean?

[Guest]

Test No. express/advan-2 "Hands on", question 1

The opposition party dismissed the government's proposal out of hand.

(a) without further consideration
(b) with some hesitation
(c) without thinking
(d) with reluctance

Test No. express/advan-2 "Hands on", answer 1

The opposition party dismissed the government's proposal without further consideration.

Correct answer: (a) without further consideration
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What is the answer

[Torsten]

If you do something out of hand you don't give it any additional thought, you decide on the spot, spontaneously. Doing something out of hand is an idiom.
Please, read this explanation too:
http://www.english-test.net/faq/2/index.html
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