Antonyms for akimbo

Grammar : Adj

Spell : uh-kim-boh

Phonetic Transcription : əˈkɪm boʊ

Definition of akimbo

Origin : c.1400, in kenebowe, of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle English phrase in keen bow "at a sharp angle," or from a Scandinavian word akin to Icelandic kengboginn "bow-bent," but this seems not to have been used in this exact sense. Many languages use a teapot metaphor for this, such as French faire le pot a deux anses "to play the pot with two handles."

As in angular : adj bent

Example sentences :

She was holding up her skirt with one hand, and the other arm was akimbo at her waist.
Extract from : « The Manxman » by Hall Caine

Her arms were akimbo and a pipe was thrust between her teeth.
Extract from : « The Black Pearl » by Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

Akimbo, a-kim′bo, adj. with hand on hip and elbow bent outward.
Extract from : « Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) » by Various

She walked slowly, the long black dress she always wore trailing after her, yet half-looped up over one arm, akimbo on her hip.
Extract from : « Mrs. Severn, Vol. 1 (of 3) » by Mary Elizabeth Carter

His arms were akimbo, his feet planted as firmly as if he were a particularly stubborn brand of tree.
Extract from : « Pagan Passions » by Gordon Randall Garrett

She was an uncommonly powerful, red-faced Irishwoman; her arms were bare, and she had them akimbo, and was scratching her elbows.
Extract from : « Ravenshoe » by Henry Kingsley

Synonyms for akimbo

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019