What mean by eating out of sb'c hands?

[Chelsea]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #268 "Eating Idioms", question 8

She had them all eating out of her hand -- means: She was able to ..........

(a) feed them all
(b) charm them all
(c) spoil them all
(d) please them all

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #268 "Eating Idioms", answer 8

She had them all eating out of her hand -- means: She was able to charm them all.

Correct answer: (b) charm them all

Your answer was: incorrect
She had them all eating out of her hand -- means: She was able to please them all.
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What mean by eating out of sb'c hands?
Is this sentence spoken in Britain or America?
And, what is tense used in this sentence?
Thanks if answering.
Chelsea

[Yankee]

Hi

The idioms I know are "eat out of someone's hand" and "in the palm of one's hand". The meanings are basically the same.

If you have somebody in the palm of your hand, then you have managed to gain control over the other person. In other words, you have charmed or manipulated the other person to such an extent that the other person does or is willing to do whatever you want them to do.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English