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.

---

Example Sentences

To throw up one’s hands in exasperation at the old familiar eruption of the Irish question is to miss the whole point of this moment – which is, of course, the English question.

From The Guardian

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

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

It's enough to make an observer throw up one's hands and just eat a donut.

From US News

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