on all hands

prep_phrase — 2 senses

on all hands

prep_phrase
1

By more or less everybody; generally.

  • It was believed on all hands that the two of them were having an illicit affair.
  • 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:
1 more example
  • ’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.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.