flurry of hands

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flurry of hands" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and energetic movement or activity involving many people, often in a chaotic or busy context. Example: "As the auctioneer called out the bids, there was a flurry of hands as participants tried to signal their offers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Again, a flurry of hands.

The New York Times

Ms. Hoopfer asked what resonated most, and a flurry of hands shot up.

The New York Times

These are stuffed!" The one person able to stop the flurry of hands smoothing out the pile was a bewigged and less than lucid seventy-one-year-old Yevgenia Leneva, a commission and Communist Party member.

The New Yorker

The first challenge to Houston's legacy arrived in the early nineties, in the form of Mariah Carey, who, from the very beginning of her career, with her constant vocal runs and obsessive flurry of hands, took certain "black" singing habits to extremes.

The New Yorker

Equally, I sometimes encounter a needlessly surly butcher who, when you hesitantly propose what you might require, will seize something in a flurry of hands, offer it for a nanosecond's inspection with a lip-curling "That do?", and have it on the scales and off again before your eyes can refocus, while calling out a weight and price which could well be a touch speculative.

The Guardian - Books

Rosete asked the others if they felt nervous at first, and a flurry of hands went up.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

There are the tiniest of props, like the flurry of hand-engraved envelopes announcing Harry's acceptance to Hogwarts.

The New York Times - Travel

But soon, in a flurry of hand gestures, glances, scribbles in a little spiral notebook and patient asides from his wife, Chaz, he's having a conversation.

The New York Times

He would come in with a flurry of busy hands, jabbing and slapping his man off balance, and then, in close, drive a short, hard right to the head or a looping left to the slim waist.

The New Yorker

His words were greeted with a flurry of raised hands from members of the audience, many of whom agreed GPs were not coming to work in the area.

BBC

It is predicated on running the football, and at times on Saturday night Thomas looked like a illusionist, befuddling the Stanford defense with a deft flurry of fake hand-offs and shoulder pumps that froze defenders.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flurry of hands" when you want to convey a sense of rapid, simultaneous movement or activity involving multiple hands, often in a context where things are busy or chaotic.

Common error

Avoid using "flurry of hands" when you simply mean people are raising their hands to answer a question; in such cases, "show of hands" or "raising of hands" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flurry of hands" functions as a noun phrase. It describes a specific kind of activity involving hands. The Ludwig AI confirms that is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "flurry of hands" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, primarily employed to depict a rapid and simultaneous movement of hands. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is suitable for various descriptive contexts, often conveying a sense of energy or activity. It is most commonly found in news and media sources. While versatile, care should be taken not to overuse it when a more specific term like "show of hands" might be more appropriate. While not highly frequent, the sources where it is used are reputable, indicating a solid, if uncommon, usage pattern.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a flurry of activity with hands

Rephrases to emphasize the activity involving hands.

rapid hand gestures

Focuses on the speed of hand movements, replacing "flurry" with "rapid".

a burst of hand gestures

Uses burst to imply a sudden, intense expression of hand movement.

quick hand motions

Similar to "rapid hand gestures" but uses "motions" instead of "gestures" to emphasize movement.

swift hand movements

Uses "swift" to describe the speed, similar to "rapid" and "quick".

energetic hand waving

Emphasizes the energy and waving action of the hands.

brisk hand activity

Highlights the liveliness and business of the hand movements.

animated hand signals

Refers to hand signals that are lively and expressive.

busy hand actions

Emphasizes the hands being actively engaged in various actions.

multiple hands moving quickly

A more descriptive alternative that spells out the components of the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "flurry of hands" in a sentence?

You can use "flurry of hands" to describe a scene where many people are moving their hands quickly, such as "As the magician revealed the trick, there was a flurry of hands trying to understand what had happened."

What's a good alternative to "flurry of hands"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "flurry of hands" could include "rapid hand gestures", "quick hand motions", or "energetic hand waving".

Is "flurry of hands" a formal or informal expression?

The expression "flurry of hands" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in journalistic or descriptive writing.

When should I use "show of hands" instead of "flurry of hands"?

"Show of hands" is used specifically when people are raising their hands to vote or indicate agreement. "Flurry of hands", on the other hand, describes a more general, often chaotic, movement of hands. If you mean the former, use "show of hands".