at the hand(s) of (someone or something)
Due to the actions of. At least her first loss came at the hands of a very formidable opponent.
at the hand of
Also, at the hands of. Performed by or at the agency of, as in The slaves suffered greatly at the hands of their new masters. This idiom was first recorded about 1035. Also see at hand.
at the hands of someone
or at someone's hands
COMMON If someone experiences a particular kind of treatment, especially unpleasant treatment, at the hands of a person or organization or at someone's hands, they receive it from them. After their 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Vitesse Arnhem, United may find morale a problem. She spoke of the humiliation she endured at the hands of the police.
at the hands of somebody
, at somebody’s ˈhands
(written) if you experience something at the hands of somebody, they are the cause of it: So far hundreds of innocent civilians have died at the hands of the terrorists.