out of hand
No longer manageable
Out of hand describes something that has become uncontrollable or unmanageable, like a situation that escalates beyond what anyone can handle: The protest got out of hand when windows started breaking.
It also means immediately or without deliberation, typically in the context of rejecting something: She dismissed the proposal out of hand.
The image behind both senses is of something no longer held or restrained by a hand.
Totally without arrangement
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
- unmanageableImpossible to control
- runawayOne who flees
unchecked · wild · unrestrained · rampant · snowballing · beyond control · unruly · haywire
Released from duty
- declinedRefused or diminished
- refusedDeclined to accept
- deniedRefused or disavowed
- vetoedAuthoritatively rejected legislation
spurned · rebuffed · turned down · shot down · nixed · waved off · brushed aside · disregarded
chaotic
Totally without arrangement
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
- escalatingIncreasing by degrees
- unmanageableImpossible to control
runaway · unchecked · wild · unrestrained · rampant · snowballing · beyond control · unruly · haywire · frenzied
dismissed
Released from duty
vetoed · spurned · rebuffed · turned down · shot down · nixed · waved off · brushed aside · disregarded · preemptively
- chaosmayhem, chaotic, pandemonium, bedlam, turmoil
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
out of handunder control
Being successfully managed
managed · in hand · controlled · in check · contained
out of handthoughtfully
With careful consideration
judiciously · on the merits · with an open mind · open-mindedly · receptively
hand, out, handle, hands, handled, handling, handed, handler, mishandle