Origin of Phrases - M
Making money hand over fist
Meaning: Making a lot of money fast.
Example: Since I joined that pyramid club, soon I'll be making money hand over fist.
Origin: If you had a large pile of money in front of you free for the taking, you would use one hand to grab a wad of money and then transfer that wad to your other hand to hold the money. The first hand is then free to grab some more money.
The hand holding the money would of course be clenched in a fist to hang on to it.