hand wringing
Visible worry display
Hand wringing is the anxious gesture of clasping and twisting one's hands together, associated with worry or distress.
More often, it describes excessive expressions of concern without action: There's been a lot of hand wringing about the budget, but no one's proposed solutions.
The implication is that the worry is performative or unproductive.
Also spelled hand-wringing or handwringing.
Troubled mental state
- frettingAnxious rumination or surface wear
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- uneaseMild persistent worry
agonizing · overthinking · dread · trepidation · angst · panic · catastrophizing · rumination
Moral self-reproach
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
self-reproach · compunction · repentance · mea culpa · culpability · self-blame · self-condemnation · atonement
Holding something firmly
- twistingRotating with distortion
- squeezingPressing inward firmly
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
- fidgetingRestless minor movements
Inability to affect outcomes
- futilityLack of purpose
- despairTotal absence of hope
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- impotenceLack of strength or power
paralysis · inaction · resignation · hopelessness · desperation · anguish · lamentation · grief
worry
Troubled mental state
- frettingAnxious rumination or surface wear
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
unease · agonizing · overthinking · dread · trepidation · angst · panic · catastrophizing · rumination · consternation
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
penitence · self-reproach · compunction · repentance · mea culpa · culpability · self-blame · self-condemnation · atonement · confession
clasping
Holding something firmly
- twistingRotating with distortion
- squeezingPressing inward firmly
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
powerlessness
Inability to affect outcomes
- futilityLack of purpose
- despairTotal absence of hope
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
impotence · paralysis · inaction · resignation · hopelessness · desperation · anguish · lamentation · grief · torment
- fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping
- frustration gesturesfacepalm, eye roll, heavy sigh, fist clench, head shake
- nervous habitsnail biting, lip biting, hair pulling, skin picking, knuckle cracking
- frettingworrying, fussing, fretting, stewing, obsessing
- awkward body languagelimp handshake, forced smile, tight smile, nervous laugh
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
hand wringingequanimity
Unshakable mental steadiness
serenity · composure · tranquility · stoicism · peace of mind
hand wringingdecisive action
Firm choice, promptly executed
taking action · problem-solving · taking the bull by the horns · rolling up one's sleeves · decisiveness
hand wringingstiff upper lip
Controlled emotional restraint
poker face · cool-headedness · stoicism · level-headedness · poise
hand, wring, hands, handed, handing, handy, handily, handiness, handful