on all hands

prepositional phrase

By more or less everybody; generally.

“It was believed on all hands that the two of them were having an illicit affair.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. By more or less everybody; generally.

    It was believed on all hands that the two of them were having an illicit affair.

    2 more examples

    And it is on all Hands agreed that there is need of great Toil and Labour of the Mind, to Emancipate our Thoughts from particular Objects, and raiſe them to thoſe Sublime Speculations that are converſant about abſtract Ideas.

    1710, George Berkeley, “Introduction”, in A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge. […], Dublin: […] Aaron Rhames, for Jeremy [i.e., Jeremiah] Pepyat, […], →OCLC, § 14, page 20

    ’Tis acknovvledg’d on all hands, ſays that learned Prelate, that the Authority, either of the Scripture or of Tradition, is founded merely on the Teſtimony of the Apoſtles, vvho vvere Eye-vvitneſſes to thoſe Miracles of our Saviour, by vvhich he prov’d his divine Miſſion.

    1748, [David Hume], “Essay X. Of Miracles.”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, part I, page 173
  2. From all sides; from every direction.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
at all hands
Cite this entry
APA

on all hands. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20all%20hands

MLA

“on all hands.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20all%20hands. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on all hands,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20all%20hands.

Source: on all hands on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.