hand wringing

hand wringing
a) The repeated clasping or squeezing of the hands as a symptom of distress.

Whisperings filled the corridors with unearthly sounds — the hand-wringing and breast-beating of the elder sisters — the sighs and sobs of the younger.

b) A feigned exhibition of distress, usually with implied inaction or vacillating in the face of a dilemma or crisis.

On the one hand, there is the danger of ineffectual and often counterproductive conservative handwringing over the crisis.


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  • hand-wringing — or handwringing [hand′riŋ΄iŋ] n. expression of distress or anxiety, as in clasping and twisting the hands together hand wringer n. handwringer * * * …   Universalium

  • hand-wringing — or handwringing [hand′riŋ΄iŋ] n. expression of distress or anxiety, as in clasping and twisting the hands together hand wringer n. handwringer …   English World dictionary

  • hand-wringing — /ˈhænd rɪŋɪŋ/ (say hand ringing) noun 1. an expression of grief, spiritual pain, guilt, etc., involving the clasping and intertwining of one s hands. 2. an expression of distress, concern, etc., regarded as excessive or as taking the place of… …  

  • hand-wringing — ˈ ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷  ̷ ̷ noun ( s) : an overwrought expression of concern or guilt • hand wringer ˈ ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷  ̷ ̷ noun * * * hand wringing UK [ˈhænd ˌrɪŋɪŋ] US noun [uncountable] a way of expressing that you are very worried or nervous …   Useful english dictionary

  • hand-wringing — wring (your) hands to show that you are very sad or anxious about a situation but do nothing to improve it. Until recently, the problem has been a subject for much hand wringing and little else …   New idioms dictionary

  • hand-wringing — hand wring|ing [ hænd ,rıŋıŋ ] noun uncount a way of expressing that you are very worried or nervous …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • hand-wringing — noun Date: 1922 an overwrought expression of concern or guilt • handwringer noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hand-wringing — UK [ˈhænd ˌrɪŋɪŋ] / US noun [uncountable] a way of expressing that you are very worried or nervous …   English dictionary

  • hand-wringer — noun see hand wringing …   Useful english dictionary

  • Wringing — Wring Wring, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wrung}, Obs. {Wringed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wringing}.] [OE. wringen, AS. wringan; akin to LG. & D. wringen, OHG. ringan to struggle, G. ringen, Sw. vr[ a]nga to distort, Dan. vringle to twist. Cf. {Wrangle},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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