Wring your hands
phrase
To twist or squeeze hands together due to feelings of distress, worry, or anxiety.
She was so worried about the exam results that she kept wringing her hands anxiously.
Often appears as...
- wring your hands anxiously
- wring your hands nervously
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To appear concerned or troubled but not actually do anything to help or solve a problem.
Politicians often wring their hands about the poverty issue, but we rarely see any practical action.
Often appears as...
- wring your hands over an issue
- politicians wring their hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To twist or squeeze hands together due to feelings of distress, worry, or anxiety.
She was so worried about the exam results that she kept wringing her hands anxiously.
Often appears as...
- wring your hands anxiously
- wring your hands nervously
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To appear concerned or troubled but not actually do anything to help or solve a problem.
Politicians often wring their hands about the poverty issue, but we rarely see any practical action.
Often appears as...
- wring your hands over an issue
- politicians wring their hands
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional gesture
Used when someone physically shows they are worried or upset, usually not in formal situations.
During the intense movie scene, we all started wringing our hands.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-literal use
Sometimes used figuratively to describe someone who's extremely anxious but not actually twisting their hands.
I've been wringing my hands over this decision for days.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of unease
It's a way to subtly indicate that a character in a story is nervous or fearful.
He wrung his hands as he waited for her answer.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional gesture
Used when someone physically shows they are worried or upset, usually not in formal situations.
During the intense movie scene, we all started wringing our hands.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-literal use
Sometimes used figuratively to describe someone who's extremely anxious but not actually twisting their hands.
I've been wringing my hands over this decision for days.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of unease
It's a way to subtly indicate that a character in a story is nervous or fearful.
He wrung his hands as he waited for her answer.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional gesture
Used when someone physically shows they are worried or upset, usually not in formal situations.
During the intense movie scene, we all started wringing our hands.
Pro Tip 2/3Non-literal use
Sometimes used figuratively to describe someone who's extremely anxious but not actually twisting their hands.
I've been wringing my hands over this decision for days.
Pro Tip 3/3Sign of unease
It's a way to subtly indicate that a character in a story is nervous or fearful.
He wrung his hands as he waited for her answer.
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