Definition

1. Adverb:

   • With hands on hips and elbows bent outward: Describes a posture where a person stands with their hands placed on their hips, causing their elbows to point away from the body.

2. Adjective:

   • (Of arms, legs, or joints) Bent outward: Describes limbs or joints that are positioned so they are turned or bent away from the body's center line.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:

  • She stood akimbo, surveying the room with authority.
  • The manager waited, arms akimbo, for an explanation.

• Adjective:

  • The statue depicted a figure with akimbo arms.
  • He sat with legs akimbo, taking up most of the bench.

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase "arms akimbo" to describe the classic hands-on-hips posture. It is less common to describe legs or other limbs.
• It often conveys an attitude of defiance, impatience, confidence, or readiness for action.
  • "Arms akimbo, she challenged his decision." (Conveys defiance or confrontation)

Variants and Related Words

• There are no common variants (like "akimboed"). The word itself functions as both an adjective and an adverb.
• Related Posture: "Hands on hips" is a more common descriptive phrase for a similar stance.

Synonyms

• Adverb/Posture: with hands on hips
• Adjective (for limbs): splayed, spread out, bent outward

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Stand (with) arms akimbo: This is the standard and most frequent collocation.
  • The coach stood with arms akimbo on the sidelines.

Adjective

1. (used of arms and legs) bent outward with the joint away from the body
   • a tailor sitting with legs akimbo
   • stood with arms akimbo

Adverb

1. with hands on hips and elbows extending outward
   • she stood there akimbo