The young man fled while she was still threatening him with an impotent gesture.

Unless Miranda warnings are a totally impotent gesture, the argument goes, there must be some percentage of suspects who invoke their right to remain silent who would not have done so.

But it was a weak and impotent gesture.

He made an impotent little gesture.

Mary Ann made an impotent gesture with her hands.

He made an impotent gesture, whirled and Strode away.

Brand shrugged, holding his hands up in an impotent gesture.

He softly pounded a fist onto the bed, an impotent gesture.

It felt like an impotent gesture--a slap on the wrist.

He flings out his lean botanising hands in an impotent gesture.