palms up
Hands facing skyward
Palms up describes a hand position with the inner surface of the hands facing upward.
The gesture conveys openness, receptivity, or supplication—asking for something, showing you have nothing to hide, or expressing helplessness: He shrugged, palms up, as if to say "What can I do?"
- openNot closed
- receivingAcquiring what's sent
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- offeringSomething presented or given
- supplicationHumble plea for help
nothing to hide · begging · asking for help · vulnerability · body language · gesture · pleading · upturned · empty · asking · reaching out · prayer · beseeching · divine grace · give · accept · hands · cupped
- ritual gesturesgenuflect, genuflection, prostration, bowing, kneeling
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- submission gestureskowtow, genuflection, genuflect, genuflecting, prostration
palms upclenched fists
Hands tightly closed
fists · arms crossed · closed off · hands behind back · defensive stance
palms upclosed off
Barred from access
defensive · guarded · concealing · withholding · arms crossed
palms updismissive wave
Gesture rejecting someone's presence
pushing away · arms akimbo · hands on hips · talk to the hand · palm strike