throw up one's hands

idiom

The idiom "throw up one's hands" is often used to convey feelings of frustration, hopelessness, or surrender, typically accompanied by a physical gesture of raising both hands in the air.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To show frustration or despair by raising both hands in the air.

Example

When the computer crashed for the third time, she threw up her hands in exasperation.

B2General

(informal)To give up or surrender because further effort seems pointless.

Example

After hours of trying to fix the problem, he finally threw up his hands and called for help.

Similar

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

put one's hands up throw up give up throw hands put one's hand up give it up wave the white flag raise one's hand cast up one's accounts give up the ghost chuck up put up one's dukes hands up sit on one's hands call it quits