cupped hands

Hands forming vessel

Cupped hands are hands held with palms up and fingers curved inward to form a bowl shape.

The gesture creates a container for holding water, catching small objects, or receiving something: She drank from her cupped hands.

Cupped hands may also amplify sound when held around the mouth: He shouted through cupped hands.

Related

scooping water · gentle · catch · bird bath · hold · cradle · fingers · prayer · begging · collect · receive · held breath · shelter · warmth · pour · lift · tender · protect

Categories
Opposites
containment/holding posture

cupped handsopen palms

Exposed inner hand surfaces

clenched fists · palms up · jazz hands · pointing finger

vessel permanence

cupped handsbowl

Concave food container

cup · vessel · container · bucket · ladle

gesture/intent

cupped handsclenched fists

Hands tightly closed

dismissive wave

Family

cups, cupped, cupping, cupful, cuplike, hand, hands, handed, handing

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G