From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishat the hands of somebodyat the hands of somebodycaused or done by a particular person – used about something bad or unpleasant that someone does Anyone who suffered at the hands of care workers will be entitled to compensation. This is their third defeat at the hands of the world champions. → hand
Examples from the Corpus
suffered at the hands of• In court, those who have suffered at the hands of criminals are comforted by relatives and Victim Support counsellors.• She speaks of the persecution suffered at the hands of her father and her yearning for liberty.• He was in surprisingly good humour, considering how much he's suffered at the hands of the puppet. 