“Hands down” means “without question.” In diving, the divers keep their hands down.
“What’s the best Olympic sport? Diving, hands down” was posted on Reddit—Dadjokes on July 24, 2021.
“The best time on a clock is 6:30. Hands down” is a related joke.
Wiktionary: hands down
Etymology
The origin of this colloquialism seems to have its roots in mid-19th century horseracing. When a horse jockey is nearing the finish line far ahead of the competition, “with victory certain”, he could drop his hands, relaxing his hold on the reins, and still win the race. “By the late 19th century the phrase was being used in non-racing contexts to mean ‘with no trouble at all.’”
Adverb
hands down (comparative more hands down, superlative most hands down)
1. (idiomatic) without much effort; easily
2. (idiomatic) without question
Twitter
Christine
@christinezucker
New favorite sport, mens diving hands down! Holy shit!!
3:22 PM · Aug 14, 2011·Twitter for BlackBerry®
Twitter
Leslie Noye
@Leslie_Noye
I’m obsessed with synchronized diving! Hands down my new favorite spot #London2012
8:26 PM · Jul 30, 2012·UberSocial for BlackBerry
Twitter
Ashley
@CrashleyBrown
Favorite part of the Olympics… Men’s Diving, hands down. #attractivemen
9:48 PM · Jul 30, 2012·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Samantha Lee
@SLEEanne
Men’s diving - hands down best event
12:10 AM · Aug 12, 2012·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
aj ~ Creatrix
@ariestess69
What’s your favorite water sport? — Diving, hands down. Followed closely by synchronized swimming and regular swimming. https://lap78.ask.fm/igoto/45DKECPW7B667HQMHN2IG6NM72NTJKAJS337PG7GI6S2J7FI2AT5AJKQFZH4AQJUK6YPUEQCIJXTKFAU34N7A55YPPSKNTBAUYVANCK4CBTQSKPHASRDWP5EQKX7ZSLTWOY5CEQE2DOGDAEAL2CF2FK7XWOEJV4PZ3KW56DNTG3LI7HSIUYA====
5:39 PM · Aug 13, 2018·Ask.fm
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/PBR_on_tap43 July 24, 2021
What’s the best Olympic sport?
Diving, hands down.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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