Hand- wringing
/ˈhændˌrɪŋɪŋ/
nounB2
Definition
Hand-wringing is the action or behavior of twisting or squeezing your hands together to show worry, fear, or stress. It often happens when someone feels upset or unable to fix a difficult situation. The phrase is also used to describe people who express worry but do not take action.
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See It in Action
Physical action of twisting or squeezing hands to show worry or stress
- •She was hand-wringing nervously before the exam.
- •His hand-wringing showed how much he feared the bad news.
- •The mother’s hand-wringing was clear as she waited for her child’s return.
Expression of worry or concern without taking action
- •There was a lot of hand-wringing about the company’s future, but no real solutions.
- •The politician’s speech was full of hand-wringing over the crisis but lacked plans.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hand-wringing" like "worry," but with a physical action—using your hands to show your feelings outside.
- ✓Picture someone holding their hands tightly and twisting them again and again when they feel nervous or stressed.
- ✓It's the feeling when you are very worried about something but don’t know what to do next.
- ✓Sounds like "hand" + "ring" + "ing" → Imagine your hands making a small "ring" shape as you twist them, like squeezing an invisible object.
- ✓In stories, hand-wringing often shows a character’s deep anxiety or fear, like before a big test or bad news.
- ✓NOT like "crying" (which shows sadness with tears), hand-wringing shows worry through body movement, not tears.
- ✓NOT like "acting" (pretending), hand-wringing is a real, natural way people show stress or concern.
- ✓NOT like "solving" a problem, hand-wringing is more about feeling stuck and worried without action.
Try Other Words
- •Anxiety: feeling nervous or worried (Use when talking about the feeling inside, without physical action)
- •Fretfulness: being upset or worried (Use for small or repeated worries)
- •Concern: feeling care or interest about a problem (Use in more formal or calm situations)
- •Nervousness: feeling uneasy or anxious (Use when the worry is about a specific event)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "hand" + "wringing" (wringing means twisting or squeezing strongly)
- •Etymology: "wring" comes from Old English "wringan," meaning to twist or squeeze tightly
- •Historical development: Originally described the physical act of twisting hands, later used to describe worry or anxious behavior
- •Modern usage: Used both to describe the physical action and as a metaphor for useless or excessive worry without action
- •Key insight: The phrase captures both the visible action and the feeling of helpless worry
Reflect & Connect
•When do you think hand-wringing is helpful, and when might it stop people from solving problems?
•How can noticing hand-wringing in yourself or others help you understand emotions better?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often do hand-wringing when they feel ___ about a problem but don’t know what to do next.
2.The speaker’s hand-wringing showed ___ before giving the important news.
3.Hand-wringing is different from taking action because it shows ___ without trying to fix things.
4.Instead of hand-wringing, it is better to ___ a plan to solve the problem.
5.The mother’s hand-wringing was a sign of her deep ___ for her child’s safety.
6.Hand-wringing usually involves twisting or ___ the hands repeatedly.
7.When someone is hand-wringing, you can often see their ___ clearly on their face and body.