People often use gestures during heated or tense arguments, such as at this political demonstration (2007).
Gestures are a form ofnonverbal communication in which visible bodily actions are used to communicate important messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words.[1] Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body. Physical non-verbal communication such as purelyexpressive displays,proxemics, or displays ofjoint attention differ from gestures, which communicate specific messages.[1] Gestures are culture-specific and may convey very different meanings in different social or cultural settings.[2] Hand gestures used in the context ofmusical conducting areChironomy,[3] while when used in the context ofpublic speaking areChironomia. Although some gestures, such as the ubiquitous act of pointing, differ little from one place to another, most gestures do not have invariable or universal meanings, but connote specific meanings in particular cultures. A single emblematic gesture may have very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive.[4]
This list includes links to pages that discuss particular gestures, as well as short descriptions of some gestures that do not have their own page. Not included are the specialized gestures, calls, and signals used by referees and umpires in various organized sports. Police officers also make gestures whendirecting traffic.Miming is an art form in which the performer uses gestures to convey a story;charades is a game of gestures. Mimed gestures might generally be used to refer to an action in context, for example turning a pretendcrank to ask someone to lower a car side window (or for modernpower windows, pointing down or miming pressing a button).
A-OK or Okay, made by connecting thethumb andforefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers straight, usually signal the wordokay. It is considered obscene in Brazil and Turkey, being similar to the Western extended middle finger with the back of the hand towards the recipient. It is also an insult in parts of Europe, meaning anal sex, to imply the rudeness or arrogance of the recipient, often used when driving with the thumb and index finger separated to infer "small penis". In more recent history, it is sometimes associated with the racist theory ofwhite power, which started as a prank meme on4chan. In Japanese culture a way of requesting money or payment uses a similar hand sign, with the palm facing upwards and the three extended fingers level.
Apology hand gesture is aHindu custom to apologize in the form of a hand gesture with the right hand when a person's foot accidentally touches a book or any written material (which are considered as a manifestation of the goddess of knowledgeSaraswati), money (which is considered as a manifestation of the goddess of wealthLakshmi) or another person's leg. The offending person first touches the object with the fingertips and then the forehead and/or chest.[5]
Beckoning sign. In North America or Northern Europe, a beckoning sign is made with the index finger sticking out of the clenched fist, palm facing the gesturer. The finger moves repeatedly towards the gesturer (in a hook) as to draw something nearer. It has the general meaning of "come here". It can also be done with the palm upwards so the finger points directly at the target.[6] In Northern Africa (i.e. theMaghreb), calling someone is done using the full hand.[7] In several Asian and European countries, a beckoning sign is made with a scratching motion with all four fingers and with the palm down.[8] In Japan and other countries in the far-east cultural area, the palm faces the recipient with the hand at head's height. If reversed, it's considered rude.[9]
Before "bunny ears", people were givencuckold's horns as an insult by sneaking up behind them with two fingers (c. 1815 French satire).
Bent index finger. This is a gesture that means 'dead' in Chinese culture.[10]
Hand of benediction and blessing. The benediction gesture (or benedictio Latina gesture) is a raised right hand with thering finger andlittle finger touching the palm, while the middle and index fingers remain raised. Taken from Ancient Roman iconography for speaking (an example is theAugustus of Prima Porta where the emperor Augustus assumes the pose of an orator in addressing his troops), often called thebenediction gesture, is used by theChristianclergy to performblessings with thesign of the cross; however Christians keep the thumb raised — the three raised fingers (index, middle, and thumb) are frequently allegorically interpreted as representing the three Persons of theHoly Trinity.[11] The hand's shape is said to partially spell the name ofJesus Christ inGreek.[12]
Not allowed. The point finger pointed upwards, whilst wagging the point from left to right, the hand around the chin level below the mouth.
Blah-blah. The fingers are kept straight and together, held horizontal or upwards and bending at the lowest knuckles, while the thumb points downwards. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to mimic a mouth talking. The gesture can be used to indicate that someone talks too much, gossips, is saying nothing of any consequence, or is boring.[13]
Check, please. This gesture, used to mean that a dinner patron wishes to pay the bill and depart, is executed by touching the index finger and thumb together and "writing" acheckmark, circle, or wavy line (as if signing one's name) in the air.[13]
To signal for the bill in Japan, although not widely used by younger people, both hands are raised, with the two index fingers forming an "X". This is to signal the "end" of a meal which is called "Shime (〆(しめ))" in Japanese. The crossed fingers represent thiskanji.[14]
Clinton thumb. The gesture dubbed the "Clinton thumb" after one of its most famous users,Bill Clinton, is used by politicians to provide emphasis in speeches. This gesture has the thumb leaning against the thumb-side portion of the index finger, which is part of a closed fist, or slightly projecting from the fist. An emphatic, it does not exhibit the anger of the clenched fist or pointing finger, and so is thought to be less threatening.[15] This gesture was likely adopted by Clinton fromJohn F. Kennedy, who can be seen using it in many speeches and images from his political career.[15]
Cuckoo sign, touched or screw loose. In North America, making a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or temple signifies that the person "has a screw loose", i.e. is speaking nonsense or is crazy.[8][13]
Cuckold's horns are traditionally placed behind an unwitting man (thecuckold) to insult him and represent that his wife is unfaithful. It is made with the index and middle fingers spread by a person standing behind the one being insulted. In modern culture asbunny ears "the actual symbolism has been forgotten and only the offence remains".[16]
Dismissive hand wave: this is gesture in which a person waves their hand or flicks their wrist outward, usually palm facing away from the body, as if brushing something aside. It is commonly used to signal dismissal, rejection, or telling someone to “go away.” In this sense, it conveys impatience or disdain, and is often understood as a nonverbal equivalent of saying “forget it” or “leave.” In English, this gesture is associated with phrases such as “wave someone away” or “wave off,” both of which carry dismissive connotations. Cultural variations exist: in some societies, the gesture may be interpreted as playful or casual, while in others it can be considered rude. In the context of African-American church and gospel music culture, the same motion can carry a positive meaning. Congregants may wave their hand as if to say “stop” or “go away,” not as a rejection of the performer but as an affirmation that the music is overwhelmingly powerful or spiritually moving. This usage is a form of nonverbal praise and part of the broader call-and-response tradition in Black worship, similar to shouting “Amen!” or standing in response to a sermon or song.
Eyelid pull, where one forefinger is used to pull the lower eyelid further down, and signifies alertness.
The "fig sign" is an ancient gesture with many uses.The ILY sign, "I Love You"Pollice Verso byJean-Léon Gérôme.A man pointing at a photo
Fig sign is a gesture made with the hand and fingers curled and the thumb thrust between the middle and index fingers, or, rarely, the middle and ring fingers, forming the fist so that the thumb partly pokes out. In some areas of the world, the gesture is considered a good luck charm; in others (including Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Russia, Serbia and Turkey among others), it is considered an obscene gesture. The precise origin of the gesture is unknown, but many historians speculate that it refers to a penis penetrating thevagina (to whichThe Finger also refers). Inancient Greece, this gesture was a fertility and good luck charm designed to ward off evil. This usage has survived in Portugal and Brazil, where carved images of hands in this gesture are used in good lucktalismans.[13]
The finger, an extended middle finger with the back of the hand towards the recipient, is an obscene hand gesture used in much ofWestern culture.[17]
Finger counting is a system to indicate numbers using fingers on one or two hands. Different areas differ in the initial finger used for the number one (thumb or index or pinky) as well as the zero symbol and highest possible number (10, 20, 27, 9999).
The finger gun gesture
Finger gun is a hand gesture in which the subject uses their hand to mimic ahandgun. If pointed to oneself (with or without the "hammer falling" of the thumb indicating firing, or a small tilt up to represent recoil), it may indicate boredom or awkwardness in the sense of wanting to commit (social) suicide; when pointed to another, it is interpreted as a threat of violence, either genuine or in jest. Between friends, a finger gun can be a sign of acknowledgement similar to a head nod and hello. Simultaneous finger guns with both hands can also be used to underscore the punchline of a joke, something of a visual equivalent to a "rimshot" sound effect.
Finger heart is a hand gesture in which the subject has a palm up fist, raises their index finger and brings their thumb over it so as to form a small heart shape. It signals a similar gesture to that of the two-handed heart. It originates from South Korean culture and was used by athletes during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games.[18] This gesture is a bit similar to money gesture, but without middle finger and not rubbing repeatedly to the thumb.
Fist pump is a celebratory gesture in which a closed fist is raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down in a vigorous, swift motion.
Grey Wolf salute is a fist with the little finger and index finger raised, depicting head of a wolf.[19] Originally used by theGagauz as a gesture of salutation and victory,[20] the gesture was later adopted by theGrey Wolves and is associated withTurkish nationalism.
Handshake is agreeting ritual in which two people grasp each other's hands and may move their grasped hands up and down.
High five is a celebratory ritual in which two people simultaneously raise one hand and then slap these hands together.
Hitchhiking gestures including sticking one thumb upward, especially in North America, or pointing an index finger toward the road, to request a ride in an automobile.
Horn sign is a hand gesture made by extending the index and little finger straight upward. It has a vulgar meaning in someMediterranean Basin countries like Italy and is used inrock and roll, especially inheavy metal music called "devil's horns", often used with the tongue extended downward.
ILY sign combines the letters 'I', 'L', and 'Y' fromAmerican Sign Language by extending the thumb, index finger, and little finger while the middle and ring finger touch the palm. It is an informal expression of love.[21]
Knocking on wood is a superstitious gesture used to ensure that a good thing will continue to occur after it has been acknowledged. However, it is sometimes used after speaking of a plausible unfortunate event, so that it does not actually occur.
Kodály hand signs are a series of visual aids used during singing lessons in the Kodály method.
Loser, made by extending the thumb and forefinger to resemble the shape of an L on the forehead is an insulting gesture.
Mano pantea, which is a traditional way to ward off theevil eye, is made by raising the right hand with the palm out and folding the pinky and ring finger. Anamulet was found inPompeii.[22]
Themoney gesture, more commonly known as the "Pay Me" gesture, is signalled by repeatedly rubbing one's thumb over the tip of the index finger and middle finger. This gesture resembles the act of rubbing coins or bills together and is generally used when speaking about money.[13]
Moutza is a traditional insult gesture in Greece made by extending all five fingers and presenting the palm or palms toward the person being insulted.
Nazi salute or Fascist salute was used in Germany and Italy during World War II to indicate loyalty toAdolf Hitler orBenito Mussolini and their respective parties. The right arm is raised in a straight diagonal position forward with the palm open facing downward. It was also used duringSpanish State to indicate loyalty toFrancisco Franco and in Greece forIoannis Metaxas.
Outstretched hand (with palm up) is a near-universal gesture for begging or requesting, extending beyond human cultures and into other primate species.[23] This gesture can also be done with both hands to form a bowl. See alsoOrigin of language.
Raised fist is mostly used by activists to express solidarity and defiance against oppression.
The Ring is an Italian gesture used in conversation to delineate precise information, or emphasize a specific point. It is made similarly to the A-Ok sign, but the ring made by the thumb and forefinger is on top with the palm facing medially. The arm moves up and down at the elbow. If more emphasis is needed both hands will make the gesture simultaneously with the palms facing one another.[26]
Roman salute is a salute made by a small group of people holding their arms outward with fingertips touching. It was adopted by the ItalianFascists and likely inspired the Hitler salute.
Salute refers to a number of gestures used to display respect, especially amongarmed forces.
Scout handshake is a left-handed handshake used as a greeting among members of variousScouting organizations.
Shaka sign consists of extending the thumb and little finger upward. It is used as a gesture of friendship in Hawaii andsurf culture.
Shrug with only one hand (rotating of wrist and opening hand palm upward) is used to signal confusion or "what?" - can be accompanied by squinting of eyes, slightly open mouth, and slight rotating of head (as if to listen more with one ear).
The so-so gesture expresses neutral ("so-so") sentiment or mild dissatisfaction ("meh"), or can describe an uncertain situation ("maybe"). The hand is held parallel to the ground (face down) and rocked slightly.[27][better source needed]
Signal for Help is a single-handed gesture that can be used over a video call or in person by an individual to alert others that they feel threatened and need help. The signal is performed by holding one hand up with the thumb tucked into the palm, then folding the four other fingers down, symbolically trapping the thumb by the rest of the fingers. It was designed intentionally as a single continuous hand movement, rather than a sign held in one position, so it could be made easily visible.
Talk to the hand is an English-language slang expression of contempt popular during the 1990s. The associated hand gesture consists of extending a palm toward the person insulted.
"Call me" or "I'll call you" gesture
Telephone. Thumb and little finger outstretched, other fingers tight against palm. Thumb to ear and little finger to mouth as though they were a telephone receiver. Used to say, "I'll call you", or may be used to request a future telephone conversation or to tell someone of a call.[28] In the 2020s, it was noted that younger people who have grown up in the era ofsmartphones use a flat palm to indicate a telephone.[29] Neither of these gestures would be recognizable to users of old-fashioned wall telephones, where the speaker and receiver were held separately.
Thanks can be given by holding a hand upright, palm outwards, with all fingers pointing upwards, with the hand at the same level as the face or just above, usually held for around a second, in British and other cultures. This is commonly used when travelling to show thanks to other people, such as thanking a bus driver from the other side of the bus, or thanking another traveller for voluntarily yielding to let another traveller pass.
TheScout's salute is a three-finger salute and sign used by members of the internationalScout movement. It is made with the right hand, palm faced out, with the thumb holding down the little finger. As a salute, the fingertips touch the brow of the head. As a sign the hand is held at shoulder height.
The term "three-finger salute" is also applied in a joking way tothe finger.
Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down are common gestures of approval or disapproval made by extending the thumb upward or downward. The Thumbs Up or Thumbs down is also a gesture used in scuba diving to signal to partner to ascend or descend.Thumb up
V sign or Victory hand is made by raising the index and middle fingers and separating them to form a V, usually with the palm facing outwards. This sign began to be used during World War II to indicate "V for Victory". In the 1960s, thehippie-movement began to use the V-sign to mean "peace", especially in the United States. It is also used in most coastal east Asian nations, in either orientation, as an indication of cuteness when being photographed. Examples are China,[30] Japan,[31] South Korea,[32] Taiwan and Thailand.[33]
V sign as an insult is made by raising the index finger and middle finger separated to form a V with the back of the hand facing outwards. This is an offensive gesture in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.[34]
Vulcan salute was used in the television programStar Trek. It consists of all fingers raised and parted between the ring and middle fingers with the thumb sticking out to the side. It was devised and popularized byLeonard Nimoy, who portrayed the half-Vulcan character Mr. Spock, and who wrote in his memoirI Am Not Spock that he had based it on the Priestly Blessing performed by Jewish Kohanim with both hands, thumb to thumb in this same position, representing the Hebrew letter Shin (ש).
Wanker gesture is made by curling the fingers into a loose fist and moving the hand up and down as thoughmasturbating. The gesture has the same meaning as the British slang insult, "wanker".
Waving
Wave is a gesture in which the hand is raised and moved left and right, as agreeting or sign of departure.
Air quotes are made by raising both hands to eye level and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands while speaking. Their meaning is similar to that ofscare quotes in writing.
Añjali Mudrā (namaste) is a sign of respect in India and other South East Asian countries likeThailand, it is made by pressing the palms together. This is of buddhist origin.
Applause is an expression of approval made by clapping the hands together to create repetitivestaccato noise. Applause is most appropriate within a group setting, to collectively show approval by the volume, duration, and clamor of the noise.
Awkward turtle is a two handed gesture used to mark a moment as awkward. One hand is placed flat atop the other with both palms facing down, fingers extended outward from the hand and thumbs stuck out to the sides. The thumbs are rotated to symbolize flippers.[35]
Batsu. InJapanese culture, thebatsu (literally: ×-mark) is a gesture made by crossing one's arms in the shape of an "X" in front of them in order to indicate that something is "wrong" or "no good".[36] Opposite ofmaru.Unicodeemoji "U+1F644".
Bras d'honneur is anobscene gesture made by flexing one elbow while gripping the inside of the bent arm with the opposite hand.
The Kohanic orPriestly Blessing – a gesture of benediction in Judaism, used (especially by those of Kohanic or priestly descent) when reciting the Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6: 22–26). Both hands are held up, palms toward the congregation, with the fingers grouped in twos – the little and ring fingers together, the index and second fingers together, and the tips of the two thumbs touching.
Thegolf clap, unlike applause, is a timid and practically silent clapping of the palms together, to silently approve of something. It may be performed when loud applause is inappropriate; however, it may instead be done in mockery or to display faux approval.
Dusting (or brushing) off hands derives from the natural way to remove powder (dirt, flour, sawdust, etc.): with open palms held together facing each other almost horizontal, the upper hand swipes once across the lower palm, then the hands switch orientation and the motion is performed with the other hand, and then repeated. As a figurative gesture meaning to forgo or disown, it parallels the phraseto wash one's hands of deriving from the biblical account ofPontius Pilate. Usually performed with three or four hand swipes, it can also be done withclaps, and when the last clap is louder, it also suggests continued anger or frustration about the repudiated thing.
Fist-and-palm, a traditional Chinese gesture used for greeting or showing respect.
Hand-rubbing, rubbing both hands palms together along the fingers' direction may mean that one is expecting or anticipating something or that one feels cold.
Hands up is a gesture expressingmilitary surrender by lifting both hands. This may have originated with the concept of exposing one's hands to show one is unarmed and not a threat, and the utility of this gesture is still employed in captures and arrests.[37]
Hand heart
TheDab is a gesture expressing triumph or playfulness in which one's head is dropped into the bent elbow of one arm while raising the opposite arm straight out parallel.
Hand heart is a recent pop culture symbol meaning love. The hands form the shape of a heart.
Jazz hands
Jazz hands are used in dance or other performances by displaying the palms of both hands with fingers splayed.
TheKung fu salute (武术抱拳礼) is a formal demonstration of respect betweenmartial arts practitioners in which the right hand (formed into a fist) is covered by the open left palm. A variant of thefist-and-palm.
Mani Giunte is an Italian gesture used when expressing exasperation or disbelief by putting both palms together in prayer and moving them down and back up towards your chest repeatedly. Also known as the "Mother of God".[26]
Mano a borsa is an Italian gesture, used when something is unclear. It is created by extending all the digits on the hand bringing them together with palms facing up and moving the hand up and down by the action of the wrist and/or elbow. It implies a question, such as "what do you want?", "what are you saying?" or "what is your point?", and it generally requires a response. This gesture can be done with either hand or both hands.[26]
Maru, (literally "circle") inJapanese culture is a gesture made by holding both arms curved over the head with the hands joined, thus forming a circular shape, to express that something is "correct" or "good". This is the counterpart of "batsu", above, though its daily use is not quite as widespread.[36]Unicodeemoji "U+1F646".
TheMerkel-Raute
Merkel-Raute: Described as "probably one of the most recognizable hand gestures in the world", the signature gesture ofAngela Merkel has become apolitical symbol used by both her supporters and opponents.[38]
Ogham: There is direct evidence for the existence of a system of ogham hand signals. The ogam tractIn Lebor Ogaim mentions two forms of finger spelling;cossogam ('foot-ogham') andsronogam ('nose-ogham').Cossogam involves putting the fingers to the right or left of the shinbone for the first or secondaicmi, and across it diagonally or straight for the third or fourthaicmi. One finger is used for the first letter, two for the second, and so on.Sronogam involves the same procedure with the ridge of the nose. Placing the finger straight across the shinbone or nose for the fourth aicme mimics the later, manuscript form of the letters. Another alphabet,basogam ('palm-ogham') is mentioned which seems to involve striking the hand in various ways against wood. Probably the angle of the hand indicated the aicme while the number of strikes indicated the letter. The inclusion of these alphabets in the Tract shows that a connection between the ogham letters and fingers was still known at the time theBook of Ballymote was written in the Middle Ages. Further evidence of the possible use of ogham hand gestures comes in the form of various literary references to finger signs. Plummer (1910 p cxvi) cites several works which mention the use of finger signs, including theLife ofSaint Brendan.
Open palms is a gesture seen in humans and other animals[39] as a psychological and subconscious behaviour inbody language to convey trust, openness and compliance.[40]
Praying hands, a reverent clasping of the hands together, is an expression used in most major religions during prayer. The palms of the hands are held together with the fingers extended and touching or the fingers folded upon the opposite hand. This gesture is often made with the two hands held at chest or head level, the elbows against the side, and the head bowed towards the hands.
Quenelle: The gesture created by French comedianDieudonné was often associated with anti-Zionism orantisemitic sentiments. It is compared to thebras d'honneur and theNazi salute. It is made by touching the shoulder of an outstretched arm with the palm of the other hand.[41]
Shame is symbolized in North America by rubbing the back of one forefinger with the other forefinger. In the stage directions of the German libretto ofDer Freischütz it is calledRübchen schabend which translates toscrubbing carrots.[42] Themusical film adaptationHunter's Bride shows not the gesture but literal scrubbing of carrots.[43][original research?]
A partialShrug (without shoulders) is sometimes used in the to signal low confidence, innocence, or "I don't know".
Suck it is used to express superiority over another by forming an X with hands over the groin area. First used by wrestling groupDX of theWWE in 1997.
TT: Made by making a fist and extending the thumb and index finger, making an uppercase 'T' shape. Hold your hands so the 'T' rests on both of your cheeks directly under your eyes, palms facing in. This sign indicates the user is upset or crying, as the sign illustrates tears pooling under the eyes and falling down their face. The sign is derived fromSouth Korea, featured in popularK-pop groupTwice (group)'s song calledTT (song) and its corresponding dance.
T-sign: Made by holding one hand vertically and tapping the fingertips with the palm of the other hand held horizontally such that the two hands form the shape of the letter T. A variant uses the forearms in place of the hands. It is used in many sports to request atimeout; incricket, it is used by players to request the review of thethird umpire.
Victory clasp is used to exclaim victory by clasping one's own hands together and shaking them to one's side to another at, or above, one's head.
Whatever – made with the thumb andforefinger of both hands to form the letter "W", the gesture is used to signal that something is not worth the time and energy. It was popularized by the movieClueless.[44]
Zoltan is a sign of support for thePittsburgh Pirates. It is made by placing the tip of one thumb on top of the other, and opening the palms of both hands to form the letterZ.[45]
Akanbe, performed by pulling a lower eyelid down to expose the red underneath, often while also sticking out one's tongue, and is a childish insult in Japanese culture. A similar gesture (accompanied by the phraseMon œil – "My eye") signifies disbelief in France; in Bulgaria it is paired instead with a variation of "Do you see a boat sailing in my eye?".
Butterfly kissing, getting an eye close to another person's eye and fluttering the eyelids rapidly; used to express love.
Cut-eye, gesture of condemnation in Jamaica and some of North America.[46]
Eyebrow raising. InMarshall Islands culture, briefly raising the eyebrows is used to acknowledge the presence of another person or to signal assent.[47] It is also commonly used in thePhilippines to signal affirmation much like nodding is used in western cultures. Aneyebrow flash is used for various meanings in other settings as well.
Eye-rolling, performed by rotating the eyes upward and back down; can indicate incredulity, contempt, boredom, frustration, or exasperation; can be performed unconsciously or consciously; occurs in many countries of the world, and is especially common among adolescents.[13] It has been added to theUnicodeemoji as "U+1F644 🙄 face with rolling eyes".[48]
Winking, A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signaling shared hidden knowledge or intent. However, it is ambiguous by itself and highly dependent upon additional context, without which a wink could become misinterpreted or even nonsensical
Air kiss, conveys meanings similar to kissing, but is performed without making bodily contact.
Blowing a raspberry or Bronx cheer, signifies derision by sticking out the tongue and blowing (linguolabial trill) to create a sound similar to flatulence.
Cheek kissing, pressing one's lips to another person's cheek, may show friendship or greeting.
Duck face, a popular gesture among teenagers which involves puckering lips. The gesture is often used as a "funny face" when taking pictures.
Fish lips: sucking the lips in a manner that makes the mouth look like one of a fish.
Shush, theindex finger of one hand is extended and placed vertically in front of the lips, with the remaining fingers curled toward the palm with thethumb forming afist; used to demand or requestsilence from those to whom it is directed.[49] Can be silent or accompanied by an audible "Sssh!" sound which alone has the same meaning.
Sucking-teeth, also known as Hiss Teeth, Kiss Teeth, "steups"[50] or "stiups", a gesture used in the byAfrican Americans, especially in theWest Indies and parts of Africa to signal disagreement, dislike, impatience, annoyance or anger[46]
Exaggeratedyawning, generally with one hand held to the mouth, is used to express boredom.
Pointing, used in Venezuela, people point to directions, objects or people pursing their lips towards the target they want to point into
Eskimo kissing, a gesture in Western cultures loosely based on anInuit greeting, performed by two people touching noses.
Facepalm
Facepalm, an expression of frustration or embarrassment made by raising the palm of the hand to the face (🤦).[52]
Genuflection, a show of respect by bending at least one knee to the ground.
Hand-kissing, a greeting made by kissing the hand of a person worthy of respect.
Hat tip or doff, a salutation or show of respect made by two people removing their hats.
Head bobble, an affirmative response or acknowledgement common in India.
Head shake, indicates a negative reaction to a query or a rejection in English-speaking cultures; also used occasionally in disbelief.
Headbanging a deep and abrupt shaking of the head, sometimes to whip long hair back and forth. Done in time with music, headbanging is used as a sign of excitement and appreciation of a performance.
Hongi, a traditionalMāori greeting in New Zealand, performed by pressing one's nose and forehead (at the same time) to another person.
Kowtow, shows respect by bowing deeply and touching one's head to the ground (🙇).
Mooning, a show of disrespect by displaying one's bare buttocks.
Namaste is a praying hands gesture usually coupled with a greeting and a head bow.
Nod, tilting the head up and down that usually indicates assent in Western Europe, North America, and the Indian subcontinent, among other places, but a nod also means the opposite in other places, such as Bulgaria.[53] When shaken once firmly, it is an expression of strong agreement such as "Indeed" or "Yes sir." When shaken quickly the person is indicating a desire to move along with the topic.
Orant, a gesture made during prayer in which the hands are raised with palms facing outward.
Puppy face, tilting the head down with eyes looking up, like a puppy; has a number of uses, such as begging for something.
Putting a slightly cupped hand, with palm down, under the chin and then flicking the fingers out (usually once or twice), a common gesture in Italy for expressing indifference; became the center of a controversy in March 2006, when United States Supreme Court Associate JusticeAntonin Scalia was photographed allegedly making the gesture to illustrate his response to his critics; aBoston Herald reporter misinterpreted it as "obscene" but Scalia later explained that he merely meant "I couldn't care less."[54][55]
Shoulder flick, using one's fingers to flick off an imaginary speck of dirt or dust on one's shoulder. Denotes that the effort that was undertaken was hardly worth the trouble entailed.
Shrug, lifting both shoulders indicates lack of knowledge or concern (🤷). Sometimes the gesture is a palms upwards from bent elbows motion with possible raised eyebrows.
Sampeah, a Cambodian greeting or gesture of respect made by lining up the palms and fingers together while bowing.
Scout sign and salute, the use of the three-finger salute by Scout and Guide organizations.
Sign of the Cross, used in many Christian rituals, consists of drawing the shape of a cross over one's body or in the air.
Finger Pentagram, the joining of theindex and second fingers of five people into apentagram shape, as depicted in the 1996 art piece Untitled byMaurizio Cattelan.[56][57]
Thai greeting, orwai, shows respect or reverence by pressing the palms and fingers together.
The "cut-throat" or throat slash gesture
Throat slash, made by moving one's index finger, thumb or entire hand, held straight and with palm down, horizontally across one'sthroat; the gesture imitatescutting a person's throat with a blade, indicating strong disapproval, extreme anger, or displeasure with others or with oneself;[13] alternatively, it can be a silent signal to stop something, i.e. to "cut"broadcasting.
Thumbing the nose (also known asAnne's Fan orQueen Anne's Fan[58] and sometimes referred to ascocking a snook),[59] a sign of derision in Britain made by putting thethumb on the nose, holding the palm open and perpendicular to the face, and wiggling the remaining fingers,[6] often combined with sticking out the tongue.
Touching heads is a gesture to express positive emotions between friends, relatives, lovers etc.
Twisting the cheek. Thumb and forefinger are placed against thecheek, and ascrewing motion, as if making a dimple, is made by twisting the wrist; inItalian culture, this can mean that something is delicious; in Germany, the gesture can be used to suggest that someone is crazy[6]
Woe is me, a melodramatic gesture of distress made by lifting the arm and placing the back of the hand on the forehead.[60][61]
^Kendon, Adam (1994). "Human gestures". In K.R. Gibson and T. Ingold (ed.).Tools, Language and Cognition in Human Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^de Bruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David; Joshi, Shonar (2010).Frommer's India. John Wiley & Sons.ISBN978-0-470-64580-2. Retrieved26 April 2013.
^abcMcNeill, David (1992).Hand and Mind: What Gestures Reveal About Thought. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
^Strubbe, Kevin; Hobert, Liesbeth (2009).Etiquette in Het Buitenland. Leuven: Van Halewijck.
^A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities: Being a Continuation of theDictionary of the Bible, Volume 1 William George Smith and Samuel Cheetham, London, John Murray, 1878.
^abcdefgArmstrong, Nancy; Wagner, Melissa (2003).Field Guide to Gestures: How to Identify and Interpret Virtually Every Gesture Known to Man. Philadelphia: Quirk Books.
^Drißner, Gerald (2016).Islam for Nerds – 500 Questions and Answers. Berlin: createspace. p. 521.ISBN978-1530860180.
^abNathaniel Zelinsky. "ISIS Sends a Message: What Gestures Say About Today's Middle East",Foreign Affairs 3 September 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2015. Archived at theInternet Archive fromthe original "But for ISIS, the symbol is more sinister than a mere declaration of monotheistic beliefs. As Salafi jihadists, members of the group adhere to a fundamentalist interpretation oftawhid that rejects non-fundamentalist regimes as idolatrous. In other words, the concept oftawhid is central to ISIS' violent and uncompromising posture toward its opponents, both in the Middle East and in the West."
^Hodgdon, Barbara (2005).A companion to Shakespeare and performance. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.ISBN1405150238.
^Haviland, John B. (2005)."Gesture as cultural and linguistic practice"(PDF). In Anita Sujoldzic (ed.).Linguistic Anthropology, Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. Oxford: EOLSS Publishers. Retrieved2013-04-27.
^Leber, Jessica (15 April 2008)."Do the Awkward Turtle".Columbia News Service. Columbia Journalism School. Archived fromthe original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved6 July 2011.
^abIshida, Toru;Fussell, Susan R.; Vossen, Piek (2007).Intercultural Collaboration: First International Workshop, IWIC 2007, Kyoto, Japan, January 25–26, 2007: Invited and Selected Papers. Berlin: Springer.ISBN978-3-540-73999-9.
^Russell, Claire; Russell, W.M.S. (1989). "Cultural Evolution of Behaviour".Netherlands Journal of Zoology.40 (4):745–762.doi:10.1163/156854290X00190.
^Friedrich Kind.Libretto: Der Freischütz (in German). KernKonzepte – via Opernführer: The virtual opera house.MÄDCHEN (aushöhnend, Rübchen schabend, mit den Fingern auf Max deutend): Hehehehehehehehehehe! [MISSES (goading; shaving root vegetables; gesturing with their fingers at Max): Hahahahahahahahahaha!] Opernführer'sEnglish translation is less specific, directing only "mocking, jeering, pointing with their fingers at Max".
^abRickford, John R.; Rickford, Angela E. (1976). "Cut-Eye and Suck-Teeth: African Words and Gestures in New World Guise".The Journal of American Folklore.89 (353):294–309.doi:10.2307/539442.JSTOR539442.
^Cambridge University Press (2006).Cambridge Idioms Dictionary (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN0-521-86037-7.
^Schiller, Joyce (August 21, 2014)."The End". Exploring Illustration: Essays in Visual Studies. The Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies. Retrieved4 October 2014.
^Randall, Charles; Bushnell, Joan LeGro (1986).Hisses, Boos & Cheers: Or, A Practical Guide to the Planning, Producing and Performing of Melodrama!. Dramatic Publishing. p. 41.
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