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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
The teachers wrings her hands
After two montns of the worst penmanship she has ever endured, the teacher wrings her hands and calls out to the boondocks: "Your handwriting is atrocious!"
Hi,
Does "wrings her hands" in the above mean "holds her hands together tight" or something else? I did try to googled its images but I could find nothing. Thanks.
Hi,
Does "wrings her hands" in the above mean "holds her hands together tight" or something else? I did try to googled its images but I could find nothing. Thanks.
Top answer
It means to twist one's hands together in fustration, distress or despair. In this expression, the frustration/distress/despair element is the most important part of the meaning. The reference to hand motions is often as much figurative as literal.
- It means to twist one's hands together in fustration, distress or despair.
- In this expression, the frustration/distress/despair element is the most important part of the meaning.
- The reference to hand motions is often as much figurative as literal.
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2 Answers
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It means to twist one's hands together in fustration, distress or despair. In this expression, the frustration/distress/despair element is the most important part of the meaning. The reference to hand motions is often as much figurative as literal.
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Yes, it's very often used figuratively. We also use "hand-wringing" as a noun to refer to excessive frustration/distress/worry/despair.
- There has been a lot of hand-wringing over the state of the economy recently.
- There has been a lot of hand-wringing over the state of the economy recently.
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