Wring your hands

Pro Tip 1/3

Emotional gesture

Used when someone physically shows they are worried or upset, usually not in formal situations.

During the intense movie scene, we all started wringing our hands.

Pro Tip 2/3

Non-literal use

Sometimes used figuratively to describe someone who's extremely anxious but not actually twisting their hands.

I've been wringing my hands over this decision for days.

Pro Tip 3/3

Sign of unease

It's a way to subtly indicate that a character in a story is nervous or fearful.

He wrung his hands as he waited for her answer.