show of hands

American  

noun

1. an indication of approval, disapproval, volunteering, etc., on the part of a group of people, usually made by each assenting person raising a hand.

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show of hands British  

noun

1. the raising of hands to indicate voting for or against a proposition

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show of hands Idioms  

1. An informal vote made by participants holding up one hand each to indicate a choice, as in Let's have a show of hands—how many want the next meeting on a Sunday? [Late 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of show of hands

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

By a show of hands, Labour conference delegates rejected the first motion in favour of the second.

From BBC

Asked for a show of hands, about two-thirds of members in the hall at their conference in Bournemouth backed a debate on changing their position on ID cards.

From BBC

He asked for a show of hands: “Who’s here for the first time?”

From Los Angeles Times

Dutton described the show of hands as a "very confronting scene" while Albanese said he has brought inflation down, wages up and added that interest rates were starting to fall, according to ABC.

From BBC

So, let’s have a show of hands: How many readers who have children allowed them to sleep overnight someplace where all they had was a thin mat laid on a concrete floor, and the lights were left on all night?

From Salon

Related Words

• ballot
• choice
• majority
• poll
• referendum
• tally