a show of hands
noun phrase
: an occurrence in which people put a hand in the air to indicate that they want something, agree with something, etc.
Let me see a show of hands: how many people want a piece of cake?
Examples of a show of hands in a Sentence
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Escape your echo chamber.
—
The Week Us, theweek, 11 July 2024
When the results came in, a show of hands indicated most people were the latter.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 5 July 2024
When a moderator asked for a show of hands from candidates as to whether any of them had ever faced discipline by the Bar, Arreaza did not raise his hand.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
At the conference, when a moderator asked for a show of hands over who felt worried that TikTok Shop would soon be a thing of the past, almost no leaders showed any signs of fretting.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 21 June 2024
Closing their eyes for a secret ballot, they were asked for a show of hands if anyone wanted to disband rather than face repercussions.
—Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The founder of Changing Lanes, a charismatic veteran named Delbert, asked for a show of hands: How many people definitely wanted to do long-haul trucking?
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
After ascertaining by a show of hands that half of those present had never even run a 5K, Itzler began with a story of overcoming.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023
At the town hall in Montego Bay, a show of hands indicated most attendees supported the move.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 May 2023
The Week Us, theweek, 11 July 2024
When the results came in, a show of hands indicated most people were the latter.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 5 July 2024
When a moderator asked for a show of hands from candidates as to whether any of them had ever faced discipline by the Bar, Arreaza did not raise his hand.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
At the conference, when a moderator asked for a show of hands over who felt worried that TikTok Shop would soon be a thing of the past, almost no leaders showed any signs of fretting.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 21 June 2024
Closing their eyes for a secret ballot, they were asked for a show of hands if anyone wanted to disband rather than face repercussions.
—Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
The founder of Changing Lanes, a charismatic veteran named Delbert, asked for a show of hands: How many people definitely wanted to do long-haul trucking?
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
After ascertaining by a show of hands that half of those present had never even run a 5K, Itzler began with a story of overcoming.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023
At the town hall in Montego Bay, a show of hands indicated most attendees supported the move.
—Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 5 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a show of hands.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near a show of hands
Cite this Entry
“A show of hands.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20show%20of%20hands. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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