put one's hands up

gesture expression

The phrase "put one's hands up" can signify surrender, admission of guilt, or simply raising one's hands, often used in confrontational or confessional contexts.

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Definition

B2Law Enforcement

(imperative, colloquial)To raise one's hands in the air, usually as a sign of surrender or to show compliance.

Example

The officer shouted, 'Put your hands up!' as he approached the suspect.
In the bank robbery, everyone was told to put their hands up.

B2General

(colloquial)To admit responsibility or acknowledge a mistake.

Example

After the error was discovered, he put his hands up and apologized.
She put her hands up to the mistake and promised to fix it.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "put one's hands up":

put one's hand up hands up throw up one's hands raise one's hand put up one's dukes throw hands put one's hands on wave the white flag take off one's gloves extend one's hand put up stick up give it up sit on one's hands head up put up a fight pipe up ante up lift up join hands up in arms