'Hand over foot/fist'

[flirty41]

I recently heard the phrase 'selling hand over foot', but I've also heard of 'hand over fist'. Do they mean the same thing? What do they mean and from where/what did they originate? Thanks all!

[Parametric]

'Hand over Fist' means very rapidly. So 'selling hand over fist' just means to sell quickly. It was probably from rope-climbing because the free HAND is moved over the FIST holding the rope.

[geofbob]

As Parametric says "hand over fist" means to do something very fast, and was probably originally a naval expression derived from fast rope climbing. But the only context it is usually used in nowadays is making money - eg "he's started a new business, and is making money hand over fist". To me it sounds odd to say that somebody is selling something hand over fist. As for "hand over foot", yes, people do say and write it, but I think what they really mean is "hand over fist" - after all, unless you're a contortionist, your hand is always over your foot, so what could the expression signify?

[flirty41]

Thanks you two!

[alicelj]

"Hand over foots" is from Walt Kelly's Pogo comics in the l950's and 1960's and is simply a play on words. If you read the comic strips you will see why it fits in with Kelly's "take" on things.

[alicelj]

"Hand over foots" is from Walt Kelly's Pogo comic strip in the 1950's and 1960's. (Note the -s on foot.) Kelly liked to play with words, and this is a good example.