The phrase "win hands down" is used to describe a resounding victory or an overwhelming success. Its antonyms, therefore, are words that convey the opposite meaning, such as "lose," "fail," "struggle," and "surrender." Other antonyms include "tie," "draw," "standstill," and "dead heat," which indicate a lack of clear winner. "Dispute," "contest," and "challenge" can also be considered antonyms for "win hands down" as they suggest a competitive situation where victory is uncertain. In short, the opposite of "win hands down" would be any expression or word that denotes an outcome that is unclear or unfavorable.