be wringing (one's) hands

To be displaying one's worries about something (without acting to address it). You're wringing your hands about this when you should be taking some action to stop it. As usual, the local politicians are just wringing their hands about the shortage, rather than securing us more crops. Don't pay much attention to Joe, he's always wringing his hands about one thing or another.

be wringing your hands

COMMON If someone is wringing their hands, they are expressing sadness or regret about a bad situation, but are not taking any action to deal with it. He accused the Government of wringing its hands and doing nothing as the country's jobless figures increased. Note: When someone behaves like this, you can call it hand-wringing or wringing of hands. Condolences and hand-wringing are not enough. I expect there'll be shock, horror and wringing of hands. Note: This expression is used to show disapproval. Note: If you wring something, you squeeze or twist it.