Hand over fist

[ny]

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

Since she started work on the stock exchange she has been making money hand over fist.

(a) in moderation
(b) in large quantities
(c) to a certain extent
(d) to some extent

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

Since she started work on the stock exchange she has been making money in large quantities.

Correct answer: (b) in large quantities

Your answer was: incorrect
Since she started work on the stock exchange she has been making money to a certain extent.
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why we use hands on fist...what that phares really mean in general ,irrespective of the ques

[Torsten]

Hands over fist is an expression that originates from the phrase hand over hand which related to rope work (especially on a ship): to climb a rope, to pull something in with a rope. When you climb up a rope or pull something in with a rope, you normally do it hand over hand, that means, you bring one hand over the other.
Then this expression was extended to mean with constant progress, with regular advances, especially when referring to a ship that is chasing and gaining on another ship.
Later the phrase changed from hand over hand to hand over fist because when you close your hand around a rope, you actually make a fist. So, when you make a lot of money it's like climbing up a rope or pulling fish in with a rope.
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