at or in the hands of

Question

Hi teachers,The workers are treated badly at / in the hands of their employer.Which one of those is correct? at the hands of or in the hands ofThanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

at

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thanks again for answering my post. I'd like to know when to use 'in the hands of'.

TN

Clive · Answer

It's largely just idiomatic, but here is a comment.

'In' has the idea of 'containing'.

I don't feel a sense of 'containing' here.
eg They were treated badly at Tom's hands.

But I do here.
eg The vase was in Tom's hands.
eg The task was left in Tom's hands.

Clive

RandomGuy · Answer

tinanam0102I'd like to know when to use 'in the hands of'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/in+the+hands+of

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Clive, Aspara Gus,

So I can use literal meaning and non literal meaning like:

The number of victim died in / at the hands of the autocrat is increasing.

Is the above sentence correct?

Thanks
TN

RandomGuy · Answer

tinanam0102Is the sentence above correct?

I’m afraid not, and I would correct it if I could.

Clive · Answer

. . .victims died in the hands of the dictator . Sounds to me like they were his prisoners when they died

. . .victims died at the hands of the dictator . Just sounds like he or his men killed them.
This is the more common meaning, I think.

The number of people who have died in / at the hands of the dictator is increasing.

Clive

PS _Edited later

Fivejedjon · Answer

Clive Sounds to me like they were his prisoners when he or his men they died

Sounds to me like they were prisoners of him or his men when they died. ?

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Thanks everyone here. I think I get the basic idea of the usage.
Have a good day.
TN

Clive · Answer

at or in the hands of

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