🙌 To Throw Up One’s Hands
To throw up one’s hands, to - Expressing despair, frustration, or exasperation. Although this gesture must be very old indeed, the expression appeared in print only from the late nineteenth century. George M. Fenn used it in The Double Knot (1890): “The woman threw up her hands and reeled.”
🗣 Related Terms & Similar Expressions
- Throw in the towel - To admit defeat or fail to continue.
- Give up the ghost - To stop trying, acknowledge failure.
- Hit the ceiling - To become very angry.
- At one’s wits’ end - To be extremely frustrated to the point of despair.
- Throw a fit - To become extremely angry or upset.
💬 Synonyms
- Surrender
- Resign
- Capitulate
- Yield
- Concede
🙃 Antonyms
- Persist
- Persevere
- Endure
- Continue
- Struggle
😂 Humor-filled Quotes
- “Throwing up my hands in frustration burns zero calories, which is a bummer.” - Phil D. Plank
- “I throw my hands up in the air sometimes… because I give up!” - Witty McWitticisms
🌟 Inspirational Thoughts
“When you feel like giving up, throw your hands up high, and reach for the stars instead.” - Hope Fulfiller
📚 Literature & References
- The Double Knot by George M. Fenn – The story where this idiom first made an appearance.
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, often reaches points of exasperation.
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway – A tale of persistence against despair.
🎬 Movies & Series
- Inside Out (2015) – Depicts various emotions where frustration and giving up find their place.
- Forrest Gump (1994) – “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get,” promoting perseverance.
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – A true story of persistence against all odds.
🎶 Songs
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey – An anthem of relentless perseverance.
- “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor – Encouraging strength and survival.
- “Never Give Up” by Sia – An inspiring track about persistence.
### Which of these expressions means to express despair?
- [x] Throw up one’s hands
- [ ] Punch the time clock
- [ ] Roll the dice
- [ ] Paint the town red
> **Explanation:** "Throw up one’s hands" is an idiom used to express feelings of despair, frustration, or exasperation. The other options are not related to despair.
### Which phrase is similar to 'throw up one’s hands'?
- [x] Throw in the towel
- [ ] Eat your words
- [ ] Barking up the wrong tree
- [ ] Break the ice
> **Explanation:** "Throw in the towel" is a synonym that means to admit defeat, similar to "throw up one’s hands."
### True or False: 'Throw in the towel' is an antonym of 'throw up one’s hands.'
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Throw in the towel" is actually a synonym of "throw up one’s hands," as both signify giving up or capitulating.
### Which song encourages persistence and not giving up?
- [ ] "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake
- [x] "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
- [ ] "Tears Dry On Their Own" by Amy Winehouse
- [ ] "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
> **Explanation:** "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey is a song that inspires persistence and not giving up, contrary to the expressions of despair associated with "throw up one’s hands."
### Fill in the blank: "At one's ___ end" is a phrase indicating extreme frustration.
- [ ] humor
- [x] wits'
- [ ] stress
- [ ] rope's
> **Explanation:** The correct phrase is "at one's wits' end," which indicates being extremely frustrated to the point of despair.
Farewell thought: In life’s unpredictable journey, there will be moments that test your patience and resolve. When you feel like throwing up your hands, remember, it’s okay to take a pause, but let that pause be a stepping stone to a stronger comeback. Keep pushing, keep striving.
Have a lived life that inspires! ✨
