To stop doing something and give up because it's hopeless

Tired of the endless and useless fights with his wife, he threw up his hands and left home

Stanco delle continue e inutili discussioni con la moglie, ha alzato le mani e se ne è andato

I have always helped her, but when I heard that, despite the economic downturn, she had quit this job too, I threw up my arms and gave up on her

L'ho sempre aiutata, ma quando ho saputo che, nonostante i tempi di recessione economica, si era licenziata ancora una volta, ho alzato le mani sconsolato e mi sono arreso

This idiom alludes to a traditional gesture for giving up