handwringing
or hand-wring·ing, hand wring·ing
[hand-ring-ing]
- a physical expression of concern, distress, or guilt.
- the nervous grasping or squeezing of the hands as a sign of these feelings.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hand-wringing
Contemporary Examples
It would be welcome relief from letting Republican hand-wringing ambivalence drive the immigration debate.
Apparently, despite all the hand-wringing, it still pays to make things in America.
Leftists have done a lot of hand-wringing in recent days, decrying the emergence of an all-powerful rightist coalition.
My initial reaction to this sort of hand-wringing is that it is disingenuous.
And so now the hand-wringing, second-guessing, and soul-searching begins.
GOP Rank and File May Block Leaders’ Plans to Win Latinos With ReformLaura Colarusso
November 12, 2012
Historical Examples
And how he puts up with that hand-wringing ready-to-cry wife!
The Vanishing of Betty VarianCarolyn Wells
The former was in a helpless state of tears and hand-wringing.
Simon the JesterWilliam J. Locke
Then after a lot of song-singing and hand-wringing we all went home, tears in every eye and smiles on every mouth.
Colonel Crockett's Co-operative ChristmasRupert Hughes
hand-wringing
- informal an extended debate over the correct course of action in a situation
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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