dead hand
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
One who is a " dead hand " at anything can do it every time without fail. See also HAND, DEAD MAH'S; MORTMAIN.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “dead hand” mean?
One who is a " dead hand " at anything can do it every time without fail. See also HAND, DEAD MAH'S; MORTMAIN.
Is “dead hand” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.