raise your hands

USAGE SUMMARY

"raise your hands" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used as a request or instruction, asking or telling a group of people to raise their hands. For example, "If you have any questions, please raise your hands."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clap! Raise your hands!

The New York Times

Raise your hands.

Yale University

Just raise your hands.

Yale University

Brother, raise your hands.

The Guardian - Books

Raise your hands right now.

Yale University

Raise your hands: Who saw this coming?

The New York Times

Raise your hands, let's have a poll.

Yale University

Just raise your hands just for me.

Yale University

Raise your hands you Poly Sci majors.

Yale University

"Raise your hands when you see yourselves," Streicher said.

The New Yorker

Now, anybody in that 9percentt, please raise your hands.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "raise your hands" to solicit a response in a group, ensure your tone is clear and encouraging to avoid any ambiguity or intimidation.

Common error

Avoid using "raise your hands" in situations where a more nuanced or anonymous response is needed. For instance, if asking about sensitive topics, consider using a survey or private vote instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "raise your hands" functions primarily as an imperative, giving a direct command or instruction. It's used to solicit a physical response from an audience, as seen in Ludwig examples where instructors ask students to raise their hands to answer questions or show agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

44%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "raise your hands" is a grammatically sound and widely used imperative, primarily employed to solicit a visual response from a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and direct way to ask people to elevate their hands, most commonly found in academic and news contexts. It is essential to use this phrase thoughtfully, considering the sensitivity of the topic and potential physical limitations of the audience. Alternatives such as ""show of hands"" or "indicate by raising your hand" may be more appropriate in certain situations. The phrase's high frequency and diverse application make it a valuable part of effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put your hands up

Changes the verb to "put" while maintaining the core instruction of elevating one's hands.

those in favor, raise your hands

Presents the phrase within a formal voting context.

show your hands

Shifts the focus to displaying hands, implying elevation for visibility.

if you agree, raise your hand

Adds a conditional clause, specifying when the action should be performed.

volunteer by raising your hand

Adds the context of volunteering, making the action more specific.

acknowledge by raising a hand

Adds the context of acknowledgement, focusing on the purpose of the gesture.

indicate by hand

Replaces the specific action with a general method of signaling.

extend your hands upward

Uses more descriptive and formal language to convey the action.

signal with your hand

Uses a more general term, "signal", instead of "raise", broadening the possible actions.

lift your arms

Offers a broader physical action, including the entire arm instead of just the hand.

FAQs

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

You can use "raise your hands" as an instruction, such as "If you have questions, please raise your hands". It's a direct way to solicit a response from a group.

What's a more formal way to say "raise your hands"?

In more formal settings, you might say "please indicate by raising your hand" or "those in favor, "show of hands"".

Is there a difference between "raise your hand" and "raise your hands"?

"Raise your hand" is typically used when addressing individuals separately or when one person is expected to respond at a time. "Raise your hands" is used when addressing a group where multiple people might respond simultaneously.

What are some situations where I shouldn't use "raise your hands"?

Avoid using "raise your hands" when dealing with sensitive topics where anonymity is important, or in situations where physical limitations might prevent someone from participating. In these cases, consider alternative methods like anonymous surveys or verbal responses.