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Has anyone any idea about the origins of the expression: "To know like the back of one's hand"? None of the obvious sources (eg Brewer) seem to have it, though several sources explain its meaning. The American heritage dictionary of idioms by C.Ammer dates it to the second half of the 1700s (found on xrefer) but gives no account of its origins. Any ideas would be welcome, but as there probably isn't any specific origin, please don't spend much time on it! Thanks. Bob Smeaton. ---------------------- R.F.Smeaton [log in to unmask]