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

A resolution to approve Reform UK’s new constitution was passed by a show of hands at the party’s conference in Birmingham.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2024

“Colonel, we asked for a show of hands, and we’ve decided not to take that hill.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

Then the judge will excuse any people who indicate by a show of hands that they can’t serve or can’t be fair and impartial, he wrote.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Mr. Diaz-Balart at one point asked for a show of hands on who had actually seen the exhibit.

From Washington Times • Jul. 23, 2023

Levin, at one point, went into a seventh-grade music class with seventy kids in it and asked for a show of hands on when the students woke up.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

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