English idiom

throw up one's hands

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to show that you give up or feel helpless about something

Why this phrase?

From the gesture of raising hands in frustration; means to give up or feel helpless.

Example

“After the third failure, she threw up her hands in despair.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

get carried away

to become so excited or involved that you lose control

sour grapes

disparaging something desirable after failing to obtain it

blow off steam

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

cut loose

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

drive someone up the wall

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

get on someone's nerves

to repeatedly irritate or annoy someone

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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