show of handsˌshow of ˈhands noun [singular] 
Examples
The dispute was settled with a show of hands.
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- But after the vote on Mr Craxi, parliamentary leaders agreed to take all such decisions by a show of hands.
- Democrats choose with a show of hands, a sign-in sheet or dividing into groups for each candidate.
- Have a show of hands of those who think you can do it.
- Instead of a show of hands, we have electronic polls.
- Let's have a show of hands.
- The citizens present decided by a show of hands what should be done.
- The voting shall be by show of hands, or otherwise as the Executive Committee may determine. 9.
- Votes are taken anonymously, as is the continental tradition, by a show of hands.
Longman Language Activatoran occasion when people vote► election
a vote taken by counting the raised hands of the people at a meeting: when people vote to choose a government or leader: · It will be interesting to see what happens at the next election.hold an election: · South Africa held its first multi-racial elections in 1994.call an election (=to say officially that there will be an election): · The government may decide to call an election early.presidential/gubernatorial election (=an election to choose a president or governor): · America is preparing for the presidential elections, which will take place in two weeks' time.general election British (=an election to choose a government): · Taxation will be one of the major issues at the next general election.
► electoral relating to an election: · Support for electoral reform is growing.· This was the first of her many electoral successes.· Electoral systems vary from country to country.
► referendum when everyone in a country votes on a particular important political subject: · How will you be voting in the referendum?hold a referendum: · The government has promised to hold a referendum and let the people choose.referendum on: · The Irish people voted 'no' in a referendum on divorce in 1986.
► ballot when the members of an organization vote on something by marking what they want on a piece of paper, especially in order to make sure that it is secret: · The result of the ballot showed that nurses were not in favour of a strike.ballot of: · He was elected by a ballot of all the teaching staff in the college.hold a ballot: · It was decided to hold a ballot of all party members.secret ballot (=when no-one knows what you voted for): · Voting will be by secret ballot.
► polls a political election - used especially in news reports: · The party is still trying to recover from the losses it suffered at last year's polls.at the polls: · Richards won a huge victory at the polls.the polls: · Voters have been flocking to the polls to elect a new president.
► polling the process of voting in a political election: · Polling has been going on since 9 am.· The announcement of her resignation came just two days before polling was to begin.polling day British (=the day when an election is held): · Polling day is 30 May.polling booth/station (=a place where people vote): · Security was tight at the polling stations.
► show of hands when the people in a group are asked to vote informally by raising their hands: · A show of hands suggested that Martins had little support.· She was elected by a show of hands.
WORD SETS► Votingabstain, verbabstention, nounadopt, verbballot, nounballot box, nounballot paper, nounblackball, verbby-election, nouncasting vote, nouncloture, nounconstituency, nounconstituent, noundeliver, verbdeposit, noundeselect, verbdisenfranchise, verbdisfranchise, verbdivision, noundoorstep, verbdream ticket, nounelect, verbelection, nounelectioneering, nounelective, adjectiveelector, nounelectoral, adjectiveelectoral register, nounelectorate, nounenfranchise, verbexit poll, nounfloating voter, nounfranchise, noungeneral election, nounhung parliament, nounlobby, nounmajority, nounmotion, nounno, nounoff-year, nounopen primary, nounoutvote, verboverall majority, nounplebiscite, nounplurality, nounpocket veto, nounpoint of order, nounpoll, nounpolling, nounpolling booth, nounpolling day, nounpolling station, nounpollster, nounPR, nounprimary, nounprimary election, nounproportional representation, nounpsephology, nounrecount, nounre-elect, verbreferendum, nounresolution, nounresolve, verbreturn, verbreturning officer, nounrig, verbrun, verbrun-off, nounscrutineer, nounshow of hands, nounslate, nounsplit ticket, nounspoil, verbsponsor, nounsponsor, verbstalking horse, nounstraight ticket, nounstraw poll, nounstronghold, nounsuffrage, nountactical voting, nounteller, nounthree-line whip, nounvote, verbvote of censure, nounvote of confidence, nounvote of no confidence, nounvoter, nounvoting machine, nounward, nounwrite-in, nounX, nounyea, nounyes, noun
The dispute was settled with a show of hands.