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Just as "arms akimbo" has a very specific meaning, is there an "arms __" that specifically means what I described in the title?

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  • 5
    TOUCHDOWN!!!!!! – Chris B. Behrens Sep 2 '11 at 18:04
  • Does this help? – simchona Sep 2 '11 at 18:09
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    akimbY !!!!!!!! – JeffSahol Sep 2 '11 at 18:13
  • @simchona Helps, but not quite the same scenario. That question is about something more like the motion a magician takes after the reveal. A key difference there being hands outstretched to the side. – xanadont Sep 2 '11 at 18:19
  • @xanadont: Ok, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a duplicate. – simchona Sep 2 '11 at 18:22
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I don't know of a single word that describes this. When I read your question, my first thought was the line from Pearl Jam's Jeremy: arms raised in a V

Among friends, I jokingly refer to this pose as sticking the landing (as a gymnast might). YMCA interruptus is sillier and not as clear, but remains an amusing option.

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    Yeah, I appreciate the gymnast reference as I thought of this too. Initially I had a problem with it since gymnasts "raise their arms in a V" regardless of sticking the landing or not; it's used to signal the end of the routine. Of course that's neither here nor there since it's immediately clear what "sticks the landing" means. – xanadont Sep 2 '11 at 18:52
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Not one word, but I'd say you hit the nail squarely on the head in the question when you said arms overhead in a Y-shape.

I instantly knew exactly what you meant.

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2

as a flight deck hand signal it means/called "fold" or "spread wings"

enter image description here

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1

People often use "raised (as if) in supplication" to describe that position, which can go from a "Y" shape to straight overhead.

I don't know if there's a precise word for it, though. I'm curious to see if there is.

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1

"upraised arms" or "arms upraised"

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