at the hands of~

先ほど，採り上げたFIFA.comのEuropean Leagues Reviewから英語表現を拾います。
Chelsea were beginning to look almost invincible after their perfect start to the season but the Premier League pacesetters suffered a home defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday. They must now pick themselves up for their first true test of the championship campaign away against fourth-placed Manchester City, who harbour serious title ambitions of their own. City got the better of Chelsea home and away last term and will be desperate to prevail again in a match that is sure to be closely followed by third-placed Manchester United – who travel to Bolton – and Arsenal, second and at home to West Bromwich Albion.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1306838.html#european+leagues+preview
今回の注目表現はat the hands of~です。辞書を引いてみると「[人]の手で，[人]のせいで」とありました（『オーレックス英和辞典』旺文社）。さらに，LDOCEを見るとcaused or done by a particular person-used about something bad or unpleasant that someone doesとありました。ここから，この表現はあまり良いニュアンスを含んでいないことが分かります。ここでは「〜に敗北を喫し」という日本語に解釈できそうです。
英語には体にまつわる表現がたくさんあります。是非一度調べてみてはいかがですか。
（ゼミ生persimmon柿生）