What is hands down?

The phrase "hands down" is an idiomatic expression with a few different meanings, typically related to something being achieved easily or decisively. Here are some contexts where "hands down" might be used:

1. Sports and Competition: In the context of competitions, "hands down" can be used to describe a victory that was achieved with little effort or challenge, as in "She won the race hands down."

2. General Superiority: It can refer to something that is clearly the best, regardless of competition. For example, "That's the best movie of the year, hands down."

3. Ease: It can denote something done with ease, without struggle or by a clear margin. For example, "He solved the puzzle hands down."

The expression is thought to have originated from horse racing. When a jockey was so far ahead in a race that he could drop his hands and loosen the reins as he approached the finish line, it was said that he won "hands down." Over time, this phrase has evolved into broader usage beyond horse racing.