close your hands

USAGE SUMMARY

"close your hands" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is a common instruction or command that can be used in various situations. Example: The yoga instructor demonstrated the correct hand position and instructed the students to "close your hands" in front of their hearts as they began the meditation practice.

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Open and close your hands while submerged in the rice.

WikiHow

Than straighten up and close your hands and split your feet back into the V.

WikiHow

Keep your hand movements open (meaning, don't close your hands over the ball after catching).

WikiHow

The basic idea is to close your hands around the disk the right time and not close your eyes.

WikiHow

The wrist rest and keyboard position also mean that you sit far back from the screen — and whether you touch a screen is almost always a function of how close your hands are to it.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The camera on the ES8000 LED lets you swipe through apps with your hand, and all you have to do is close your hand to click.

TechCrunch

Open and close your hand.

WikiHow

Gently close your hand and make a fist.

WikiHow

All you have to do is close your hand, and eureka -- you just made 25 cents!

WikiHow

Don't ever try to close your hand around a wild bird.

WikiHow

Gently close your hand, wrapping your fingers and thumb around the edges of your date's hand.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to make a fist, use "close your hands" for a general instruction. For more emphasis, use "clench your fists".

Common error

Avoid using "close your hands" when a more specific action is needed, such as gripping an object or forming a particular shape with the hands. Be precise in your instruction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close your hands" functions primarily as an imperative, giving a direct command or instruction. It is used to tell someone to bring their fingers and palm together. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples illustrating its use in practical instructions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

37%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close your hands" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood imperative phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI. It's used to directly instruct someone to bring their fingers and palm together and is most frequently found in Wiki and News & Media contexts. While generally informal, its specific tone and purpose can vary depending on the context, such as when giving instructions for exercise or describing a magical act. Consider using related phrases like "make a fist" or "bring your palms together" to add nuances to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut your hands

Replaces "close" with "shut", maintaining the same imperative meaning.

make a fist

Indicates the action of closing the hands into a fist.

form a fist

Similar to "make a fist", but slightly more formal.

clench your fists

Suggests a forceful closing of the hands, implying tension or anger.

bring your palms together

Describes a specific way of closing the hands, often in prayer or meditation.

curl your fingers inward

Focuses on the movement of the fingers when closing the hand.

enclose your hands

Emphasizes the action of surrounding something by closing the hands.

grip tightly with your hands

Suggests closing the hands with force, often around an object.

draw your hands inward

Describes the movement of bringing the hands closer to the body while closing.

cup your hands

Implies closing the hands in a cupping shape, not fully closed.

FAQs

How can I use "close your hands" in a sentence?

You can use "close your hands" as an instruction during meditation, a demonstration of a physical exercise, or when explaining a magic trick.

What is a more formal way to say "close your hands"?

A more formal way to say "close your hands" could be "bring your palms together" if referring to a gesture of prayer or meditation, or "form a fist" if referring to self-defense.

Is there a difference between "make a fist" and "close your hands"?

"Make a fist" and "close your hands" are often interchangeable, but "make a fist" emphasizes the resulting shape, while "close your hands" focuses on the action of doing so.

What's a suitable alternative to use instead of "close your hands" when performing magic tricks?

You can use "shut your hands", but more specific instructions are often better, as demonstrated in the examples provided.