Hands down

Definitions

easily or without effort
Used to describe something that is done or achieved with minimal effort or difficulty
without any doubt
Used to express complete certainty or confidence in something
to give up or surrender
Used to describe someone giving up or surrendering to someone or something without putting up a fight

Examples of Hands down

The athlete handed down the victory after breaking the national record in the 100 meters race.

In this example, "hands down" is used metaphorically to mean that the athlete's victory was undisputed and unchallenged, as if it were easily handed over to them as if someone were surrendering something to them.
The student's grades were hands down the best in the class, demonstrating their exceptional academic prowess.

Here, "hands down" means that the student's grades were overwhelmingly superior to those of their classmates, leaving no doubt about their academic superiority.
The robot's performance in the competition was hands down the most impressive, leaving everyone awestruck with its abilities.

In this example, "hands down" is used to emphasize the robot's outstanding performance that left everyone amazed and left no room for doubt about its superiority.
The argument was put to rest when the evidence was presented, laying the issue to rest hands down.

In this example, "hands down" means that the evidence presented was so overwhelming and conclusive that it left no further reason to dispute the issue, leaving it to rest or settle for good.
Sarah is hands down the best basketball player on the team.

This idiom is used to emphasize that there is no doubt or competition in who is the best. It means that Sarah clearly outperforms all other players on the team without a doubt.
After trying multiple brands, the new headphones are hands down the most comfortable I have ever used.

This idiom is used to express that after trying many different options, the new headphones stand out as the most comfortable option.
The recipe you provided is hands down the easiest and most delicious one I have ever made.

This idiom is used to express that the recipe provided is both the easiest and the most delicious recipe the speaker has ever made, with no other recipe being a match.
The candidate with the most experience and credentials is hands down the most qualified for the job.

This idiom is used to express that the candidate with the most experience and credentials is so qualified that there is no doubt or competition in their qualification. It means that they clearly outperform all other candidates in terms of experience and credentials.

Conclusion

The idiom "hands down" can be used in various contexts and has multiple meanings, but all of them share the idea of something being done easily or without much effort. It can be used to describe a task or activity that is completed without difficulty, to express certainty or confidence in something, or to describe someone giving up or surrendering without resistance.

In all of these meanings, the phrase "hands down" is used to emphasize the ease or certainty of the action being described. It is often used in informal conversations or in written language to add emphasis and make a statement stronger.

Origin of "Hands down"

The origin of the idiom "hands down" is believed to come from horse racing. In the 19th century, when a jockey was confident of winning a race, they would loosen their grip on the reins and let their hands fall down, showing their ease and confidence in winning. This gesture became associated with an easy victory and eventually evolved into the phrase "hands down" being used in other contexts.

Another theory suggests that the phrase originated from card games, where a player who is confident of winning may place their cards on the table with their hands down, showing their confidence and ease in winning.

Overall, the idiom "hands down" has a long history and its origin can be traced back to different sports and games where an easy victory or certainty was demonstrated through the use of hands.