Spending like a man with no hands?

[Bex28]

My Nan used to say this all the time, and I said it to my bf the other day when I told him not to go and spend loads of money and then realised quite how stupid it actually sounds...Does anyone else know of this saying and/or where it comes from?

[Quizmonster]

As you've had no reply for a couple of days, I thought I might offer this...I've never heard the phrase used myself, but I wonder whether it is used to mean the opposite of what seems to be suggested.
Clearly, someone with no hands cannot reach into his pockets to get at his money, so it might be said of a mean person...the sort that doesn't buy his round in the pub. So, saying: "He was spending like a man with no hands" actually means "He wasn't spending anything at all!"
Perhaps what you should have said to your boyfriend was:"Spend money like a man with no hands!"

[Bex28]

I can see your logic, perhaps it was just my Nan getting mixed up with her phrases, as she did a lot of the time!

Thanks for your answer Quizmonster!

[Robinia]

Bex I'm from Nottinghamshire originally & we said 'Spending like a man with no arms'  meaning spending lots of money!!

[rachaelersk]

Maybe the man with no hands had them chopped off or lost in some horrific accident and so therefore had lots of money as compo so there you would get the saying spending like a man with no hands!!!! only a thought. xxBig Sis

[Robinia]

Mmm been thinking....  Maybe if you have no hands/arms then other people take your money out of your pocket for you....?...& they keep on taking it...!

It's funny how we just use these sayings without knowing what they really mean!

[Wilsen]

HI. The saying is 'spending money like a woman with no ALMS' not arms.
it refers to the person not being charitable and spending all of their money on themselves. it implies both profligacy and greed.
After hearing it most of my childhood, I asked my Nan to explain it one day
Cheers