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A Well-Known Saying
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'To know something like the back of your hand.' I have looked in many reference books but have never found a plausible explanation of this phrase. Since I doubt that most people would actually be able to identify a picture of their own hand from a selection of the same I think we may have to think outside the box to get a handle on the origin of this saying. Any suggestions?
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from etymonline
To know (something) like the back of one's hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1893 in a dismissive speech made to a character in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Catriona":
If I durst speak to herself, you may be certain I would never dream of trusting it to you; because I know you like the back of my hand, and all your blustering talk is that much wind to me.
The story, a sequel to "Kidnapped," has a Scottish setting and context, and the back of my hand to you was noted in the late 19th century as a Scottish expression meaning "I will have nothing to do with you" [see Longmuir's edition of Jamieson's Scottish dictionary]. In English generally, the back of (one's) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection at least since 1300. Perhaps the connection of a menacing dismissal is what made Stevenson choose that particular anatomical reference.
To know (something) like the back of one's hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1893 in a dismissive speech made to a character in Robert Louis Stevenson's "Catriona":
If I durst speak to herself, you may be certain I would never dream of trusting it to you; because I know you like the back of my hand, and all your blustering talk is that much wind to me.
The story, a sequel to "Kidnapped," has a Scottish setting and context, and the back of my hand to you was noted in the late 19th century as a Scottish expression meaning "I will have nothing to do with you" [see Longmuir's edition of Jamieson's Scottish dictionary]. In English generally, the back of (one's) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection at least since 1300. Perhaps the connection of a menacing dismissal is what made Stevenson choose that particular anatomical reference.
Potentially we're talking about two separate sayings though DTC.
The reference cited is just to 'the back of my hand' apparently used in a context of showing the back of a hand to be dismissive.
What we're addressing in this thread is the specific meaning of 'to know [something] like the back of one's hand'. Quite different.
The reference cited is just to 'the back of my hand' apparently used in a context of showing the back of a hand to be dismissive.
What we're addressing in this thread is the specific meaning of 'to know [something] like the back of one's hand'. Quite different.
