throw up (one's) hands
To submit or give up. I'm ready to throw up my hands after trying to train this unruly puppy. Don't just throw up your hands—keep trying.
horror
see under throw up one's hands.
throw up one's hands
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.
throw up (one's) hands
To indicate or express utter hopelessness: He threw up his hands and abandoned the argument.