The phrase "put your hands up" is used in a sentence to indicate the act of raising one's hands, often in a gesture of surrender, compliance, or sometimes, as an expression of frustration. The provided reference, "Hands-up Sentence Examples," illustrates several ways this phrase is used in context.
Examples of "Put Your Hands Up" in Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| He put his hands up. | A simple statement of someone raising their hands. |
| He held his hands up and obeyed. | Demonstrates compliance, indicating the person raised their hands to follow instructions. |
| Miriam pursed her lips then threw her hands up. | Shows a gesture of frustration or exasperation. |
| He put his hands up and leaned back. | Indicates a more relaxed posture, likely indicating defeat or a disinterest in the current activity. |
Different Meanings of "Put Your Hands Up"
The phrase "put your hands up" can carry several meanings depending on the context:
- Surrender or Compliance: This is perhaps the most common use, often in situations where someone is being told to surrender, like during an arrest.
- Example: "Put your hands up! You're under arrest!"
- Obedience: As seen in the example from the reference, holding your hands up can mean you're following instructions.
- Example: "The teacher told the students to put their hands up if they had a question."
- Frustration: The phrase “throw one’s hands up” suggests a gesture of giving up, often in response to something annoying or challenging.
- Example: "After failing to fix the car for the fifth time, he just threw his hands up in the air."
- Non-verbally Showing Acknowledgment The phrase can be used as a non-verbal way to communicate that you've seen or heard something without having to respond verbally.
- Example: "I put my hands up when I saw her walking down the street because I didn't feel like talking."
How to Use "Put Your Hands Up" Correctly
To use "put your hands up" correctly in a sentence, consider the following:
- Clarity: Ensure the context makes it clear why the person is raising their hands.
- Verb Tense: Use the correct tense ("put," "puts," "putting," etc.) to match the timing of the action.
- Synonyms: While "put your hands up" is common, other phrases like "raise your hands" or "hold your hands up" can be used with similar effect, if contextually correct.
- Figurative: Understand that the phrase can also have a figurative use, for example in “I throw my hands up”.
