Example: La fiesta se fue de las manos y llegó la policía.
Definition
"Irse de las manos" means a situation or event becoming uncontrollable or chaotic, often escalating beyond what was expected or manageable. For example, a party that gets out of hand and requires intervention is described as "irse de las manos."
Translations
to get out of hand
uit de hand lopen
anar-se'n de les mans
échapper au contrôle
aus dem Ruder laufen
Etymology
The phrase "irse de las manos" literally translates to 'to go out of the hands,' implying something slipping away from control or grasp. It metaphorically suggests losing control, as if a situation has escaped the ability to be managed by one's hands.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Irse de las manos" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (B2) - parte 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to get out of hand