throw up one's hands

Idioms  

1. Indicate or express utter hopelessness. For example, Jim was getting nowhere so he threw up his hands and abandoned the argument. This idiom alludes to a traditional gesture for giving up.

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Example Sentences

It’s easy to throw up one’s hands and loudly proclaim that those who knew but did not act had done the wrong thing.

From The Verge • Feb. 21, 2018

Not saying we can solve it and, granted, with all the players, it's tempting to throw up one's hands.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2018

The question of when and how violence might be justifiable is not easy to answer, but it’s one that deserves better treatment than to throw up one’s hands and say that both sides are bad.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2013

But for a reporter trying to inform those decisions, it doesn’t seem very useful to throw up one's hands and say, hey, this is a metaphysical debate!

From Slate • Jul. 3, 2012

The water of the lake is so buoyant that one might throw up one's hands and remain upright.

From Reminiscences of Queensland 1862-1869 by Corfield, W. H. (William Henry)