hand over fist

Are you coming over again to see me some day soon? I keep returning, and now hand over fist, from the realms of Hades: I saw that gentleman between the eyes, and fear him less after each visit.

1880, Robert Louis Stevenson, “chapter 4”, in The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson, volume I

Now, since cattle had risen and meat and all to such a price, he was making money hand over fist.

1888, Rolf Boldrewood, “chapter 39”, in Robbery Under Arms

He was a live man and a brisk talker, and had two journeymen and three apprentices, and was doing a raging business. In fact, he was getting rich, hand over fist, and was vastly respected.

1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC

Why, those Dalmatians are showing Pajaro apples on the South African market right now, and coining money out of it hand over fist.

1913 October, Jack London, The Valley of the Moon, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC

Now we are in the War and our business is booming, we are making money hand over fist.

1917, Upton Sinclair, The Profits of Religion […]