People often use gestures during heated or tense arguments, such as at this political demonstration.

Gestures are a form of body language or non-verbal communication. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses, see Body language (disambiguation). ... http://members. ...

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, having specific connotations only in certain cultures. Different types of gestures are distinguished. The most famous type of gestures are the so-called emblems or quotable gestures (see the examples below). These are culture specific gestures that can be used as replacement for words. Communities have repertoires of such gestures. A single emblematic gesture can have very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive. For gestures in computing, see mouse gesture. ... Hand gestures, are gestures performed by one or two hands. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ...

Another type of gestures are the ones we use when we speak. These gestures are closely coordinated with speech. The meaningful part of the gesture is temporally synchronized with the co-expressive words. For example, a gesture that depicts the act of throwing will be synchronous with the word 'threw' in the utterance "and then he threw the ball right into the window." Other gestures like the so-called beat gestures, are used in conjunction with speech, keeping time with the rhythm of speech and to emphasize certain words or phrases. These types of gestures are integrally connected to speech and thought processes.

Studies of gesture

The first full-length study of gesture was published by John Bulwer in 1644. Bulwer analyzed dozens of gestures, and provided a guide on how to use gestures to increase eloquence and clarity for public speaking. Today, one of the most prominent researchers in the field of gesture research is Adam Kendon. He has investigated many aspects of gestures, including their role in communication, conventionalization of gesture, integration of gesture and speech, and the evolution of language. Other prominent researchers in this field include Susan Goldin-Meadow and David McNeill. Adam Kendon - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Social significance

Vitarka mudra, Tarim Basin, 9th century.

Gestures play a major role in many aspects of human life. Many animals, including humans, use gestures to initiate a mating ritual. This may include elaborate dances and other movements. Vitarka Mudra. ... Vitarka Mudra. ... A mudrā (Sanskrit, मुद्रा, literally seal) is a symbolic gesture usually made with the hand or fingers. ... Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim Basin. ... Suitor redirects here. ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ...

Religious and spiritual gestures are also common, such as the Christian sign of the cross. In Hinduism and Buddhism, a mudra (Sanskrit, meaning either "posture" or "currency" depending on the interpretation) is a symbolic gesture made with the hand or fingers. Each mudra has a specific meaning, playing a central role in Hindu and Buddhist iconography. An example is the Vitarka mudra, the gesture of discussion and transmission of Buddhist teaching. It is done by joining the tips of the thumb and the index together, while keeping the other fingers straight. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ... Hinduism is a religious tradition[1] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... A mudrā (Sanskrit, मुद्रा, literally seal) is a symbolic gesture usually made with the hand or fingers. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Look up Iconography in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Using one hand

Main article: Hand gesture

Hand gestures, are gestures performed by one or two hands. ...

Approximation

The "approximation" gesture is performed by holding the hand horizontally, palm down, with the fingers forward or spread, and then tilting the hand to the left and to the right. It indicates that a number or a statement is to be taken approximatively.

Likewise, the gesture, with a gentle rocking left-right movement, is understood to mean "so-so", (or, not too good, not too bad) a response one might give to the question, "How's it going with you?"

This response-gesture is equivalently understood among various cultures or language groups; in particular the Spanish, French, and other romance language groups use it. The Romance languages, also called Romanic languages, are a subfamily of the Italic languages, specifically the descendants of the Vulgar Latin dialects spoken by the common people evolving in different areas after the break-up of the Roman Empire. ...

Aún hay más (there's still more)

In Mexico, television presenter Raul Velasco prominently used in his program Siempre en Domingo (Always on Sunday) a hand gesture that is commonly used by floor directors of television programs in North America to indicate to presenters the need for a commercial break. The gesture involves using the thumb and index finger to represent a letter "C". Usually, the gesture occurs behind the cameras, but Velasco used it in front of them, most often saying "Aún hay más" (There's still more to come) while using the gesture. As an indirect result, Mexicans adopted the gesture in common cultural use to signal the need to interrupt whatever the speaker is doing and request a break from a listener. The gesture's use is widespread in Mexico and, due to "Siempre en Domingo"'s popularity across the continent, is used to a lesser extent in the rest of Latin America. Raúl Velasco (April 24, 1933 - November 26, 2006) was born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. ... Commercial break is a period of time when a television station interrupts a programme to broadcast advertisements. ...

Bang bang

This gesture mimes a handgun.

The "bang bang" gesture is performed by raising the fist with the index finger and thumb extended. The index finger points at the recipient. The thumb is then brought down on top of the fingers. This imitation of the action of a revolver pistol is often meant to represent a handgun in children's games. It may also be used menacingly to mean "I'm gonna kill you", or simply as a playful greeting. The middle finger is often also extended to widen the "barrel". gesture_thumb_up_then_down_forefinger_out_like_gun File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... gesture_thumb_up_then_down_forefinger_out_like_gun File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ...

Texas Tech fans use a form of this salute, which they call "Guns up" (fingers pointed upward), to cheer their team. Also, the "bang bang" performed with both hands was a signature gesture of professional wrestler Mick Foley while he was in his "Cactus Jack" persona. Texas Tech University redirects here. ... For the video game, see Pro Wrestling (video game). ... Michael Francis Mick Foley, Sr. ... In professional wrestling, a gimmick is a wrestlers personality, behavior, attire and/or other distinguishing traits while performing. ...

Also, if the thumb and middle finger are used to click, and the thumb the pointed upwards to form the gun, this can also be interpreted as a greeting.

A two-handed version of the same gesture can be used to indicate sporting/business success or sexual conquest (frequently accompanied by a syncopated "pow-pow", esp. in a posh British accent).

Beckoning sign

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", although it is normally seen as condescending or anyway impolite. It is sometimes performed with the four fingers, with the entire hand, or even with the arm, depending on how far the recipient of the sign is.

When performed with the index finger, it may have a mild sexual connotation depending on the circumstance.

In Africa, the Far East and many Spanish-speaking countries, this sign is given with all four fingers and with the palm down, while in Sicily the whole hand is waved, palm down, as if sweeping the recipient towards the speaker. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ...

In Japan there is a similar gesture, but the four fingers are used, the palm faces the recipient and the hand is at head's height. This is the gesture featured in the maneki neko. The Maneki Neko is often used as a piggy bank. ...

In the sport of mixed martial arts, the gesture is used to provoke a opponent to attack or to allow a opponent to stand back up from the ground without retaliation. This gesture is mostly used as a non-verbal way of saying "come on", "bring it" or "show me what you got". It may also be referred to as a taunt. For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see hybrid martial arts. ... A taunt is a sarcastic remark, challenge, or insult intended to provoke a response of some kind from the one it is directed at. ...

Benediction and blessing

Benediction gesture, on a coin of Emperor Constantine.

The benediction gesture is a raised right hand with the ring and little finger fingers touching the palm, while the middle and index fingers remain raised. Taken from Ancient Roman iconography for speaking (an example is the Augustus of Prima Porta where the emperor Augustus assumes the pose of an orator in addressing his troops), it is used as a simple charm or blessing amongst many modern Pagans, and has a vast array of uses. Perhaps the most common and/or noteworthy use of the gesture is while tracing an invisible "air pentagram" before someone during certain Wiccan rituals such as the Great Rite performed during Beltane and Drawing Down the Moon on the Esbats. One might also use the gesture to trace invisible pentagrams or other sigils over items to be blessed or empowered, such as holy water, ritual wine, ritual ale, or the Sacred Herb. The two extended fingers are used to point (except when an athame, wand, or sword is used). Medal of Emperor Constantine. ... Medal of Emperor Constantine. ... Head of Constantines colossal statue at Musei Capitolini Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus[1] (February 27, 272–May 22, 337), commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or (among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic[2] Christians) Saint Constantine, was a Roman Emperor, proclaimed Augustus by his troops on... The little finger, often called the pinky in American English and pinkie in Scottish English (from the Dutch word pink, meaning little finger), is the most ulnar and usually smallest finger of the human hand, opposite the thumb, next to the ring finger. ... Look up charm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up blessing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... A pentagram A pentagram (sometimes known as a pentalpha or pentangle or, more formally, as a star pentagon) is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes. ... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ... In wicca, the Great Rite is ritualistic sexual intercourse. ... This article is about the Gaelic holiday. ... While most widely known as the title of an influential book by Margot Adler, Drawing Down The Moon is a powerful ritual now most commonly seen in Wiccan practices, although Judica Illes asserts that the ritual itself predates Wicca by centuries. ... Wiccans and many other Pagans celebrate the esbats, which are the full moons. ... This article is about water that has been blessed. ... For other senses of this word, see ritual (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ale (disambiguation). ... This article is about the plant genus Cannabis. ... Athame Athame, athamé or arthame is what some practitioners of ritual magic call their ceremonial knives. ... The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the dukes daughter into a white hind. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A similar sign, called the benediction gesture, is used by the Christian clergy to perform blessings with the sign 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 the Holy Trinity. It was shown by representations of Jesus as Christ Pantocrator. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... Look up blessing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ... This article concerns the holy Trinity of Christianity. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other uses, see Pantokrator (disambiguation). ...

In Sicily, this sign is used ironically to declare something or someone dead.

"Biting one's thumb"

In the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, Capulet's servant Sampson precipitates a brawl by biting his thumb at Montague's servant Abraham. In the scene it appears that biting one's thumb in Verona is a non-verbal equivalent of fighting words, probably similar to the middle finger gesture. Sampson explains the meaning of the gesture to his companion Gregory, indicating that the gesture would have been unfamiliar even to the original audience of the play. The play does not describe the gesture in detail, but in performances of the play it is often enacted by placing the thumb upright (as in a "thumbs up" sign) just behind the upper incisors, then flicking the thumb outward in the direction of person the gesture is meant to insult. This is a traditional Sicilian insult meaning 'to hell with you'.^{[citation needed]} Shakespeare redirects here. ... For other uses, see Romeo and Juliet (disambiguation). ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... The fighting words doctrine, in United States constitutional law, is a limitation to freedom of speech as granted in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution In its 9-0 decision, Chaplinsky v. ...

Blah-blah

The fingers are kept straight and together in a horizontal fashion while the thumb is held out straight. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to suggest a mouth talking. It is used to indicate contempt for a person talking for an excessive period of time about nothing the gesturer feels is important.

Bunny ears

The bunny ears gesture is a joke, and is common with young children. It consists of sticking up the pointer and middle finger, just like the V sign (peace sign), and putting that hand behind someones head, to make it look like the "victim" has bunny ears. It is usually done while a picture is being taken.

Normally little kids do this, but older people have done it in pictures as well. The bunny ears joke is appropriate during lighter and casual occasions, such as parties, or on family vacations. This is never to be done during a serious photo, such as a photo taken during a funeral, as this may be portrayed as "immature".

Check, please

This gesture, understood by waiters around the world 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" a wavy line in the air, as if to sign one's name. An alternative gesture with the same meaning is made by touching the index finger and thumb together and drawing a checkmark (✓) in the air. In Egypt, the left hand is held palm-out and the right, palm-down, is tapped against the left wrist to request the check. In Thailand, one makes a circling gesture with the thumb and fingers pinched together- as if you are holding an imaginary pencil and making imaginary scribbles on a piece of paper. Sometimes the opposite palm is used as the 'paper' - this is common in South Africa. In the Philippines, one outlines a rectangle in the air using the thumb and forefinger of both hands. A tick (known as a checkmark or check in American English) is a mark () ( ) used to indicate the concept yes, for example yes, this has been verified or yes, I agree. Its opposite is the cross () ( ), although the cross can also be positive, for example in elections. ...

Clenched fist

See also: With a strong hand and an outstretched arm

A clenched fist.

A raised, clenched fist is used as a gesture of defiance by a number of groups. It is usually considered to be hostile, yet without any sexual, scatological, or notionally offensive connotations. It is especially associated with Communists and with other nationalist or ethnic revolutionary or would-be revolutionary movements, and with the Black Power movements of the 1960s in the United States. When singing The Internationale, the Marxist anthem, it is customary to make this gesture. A clenched fist raised quickly up and down and then punched in some direction also signifies a military call for a heavy weapons team to close on the gesturer or to move or open fire in the direction indicated by the punch. In US military, the right fist raised up with a straight arm, with the finger side towards the receiver, is an order for the person to stop immediately - to "freeze".^[1] American Football referees use a raised fist to indicate that a team faces fourth down. This gesture can also be used to mean "I am angered or offended by what you have done." In Exodus 6 (Parshat Vaeira in the Torah), Moses has just reiterated to God the complaint of the Israelites that every time he has gone to Pharoah on their behalf, things have gotten worse for them; in this case, Pharoah has now ruled that they shall henceforward make bricks... A clenched fist closed fist, or raised fist, as a symbol, has been used to represent many similar ideas. ... This article is about the form of society and political movement. ... For other uses, see Revolution (disambiguation). ... ‹ The template below is being considered for deletion. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... LInternationale in the original French. ... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ...

Clinton thumb

Warren G. Harding.

The gesture dubbed the "Clinton thumb" after its most famous user, Bill Clinton, is used by politicians to provide emphasis in speeches without pointing the finger. This gesture has the thumb leaning against the thumbside portion of the index finger, which is part of a closed fist. It does not exhibit the anger of the clenched fist or pointing finger, and so is thought to be less threatening. This gesture was likely adopted by Clinton from John F. Kennedy, who can be seen using it in many speeches during his political career.^{[citation needed]} It is often used in extemporaneous speech and debate, as a tool for emphasizing points. Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was an American politician and the 29th President of the United States, from 1921 to 1923. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... John Kennedy and JFK redirect here. ...

Crossed fingers

Main article: Crossed fingers

A gesture made by crossing the index and middle fingers such that the middle finger overlaps and intertwines the index finger, which can be used to signify one's hope that something should succeed (compare to the phrase "Keep your fingers crossed."). According to OldSuperstitions.com, this stems from the superstition that "Bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true.". However, if placed behind one's back, the gesture takes on an entirely different meaning: it is then normally used to indicate that the user secretly wishes for something contrary to what is being stated or going on, or that a lie is being told. This usage is often seen in dramatic contexts. To cross ones fingers is a hand gesture used to wish for good luck or to nullify a promise. ... For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ...

Cuckoo sign

A gesture made by closing ones fist, extending the index finger, and circling it around ones ear or temple for several seconds. This gesture is used to indicate that someone is speaking nonsense or is crazy (more colloquially, this is described as being cuckoo). The "cuckoo" sign is well-known in the United States and Canada. In European countries tapping the temple with the index finger often has the same meaning. Genera See text. ...

Curwen (Kodály) Hand Signs

Depiction of Curwen's Solfege hand signs. This version includes the tonal tendencies and interesting titles for each tone.

See also: Kodály Method

Named after John Curwen, and largely defined by Zoltán Kodály, The Curwen Hand Signs are a way of representing musical notes by holding the hand in a certain position for each note. The basic concept of using gestures to represent notes is quite ancient, however near the end of the 19th century, the concept was formalized as a standard teaching method. Curwen Hand Signs are featured in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. (External link, with sample pictures: [1]) Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 379 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (611 × 965 pixel, file size: 376 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is in the public domain in the United States. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 379 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (611 × 965 pixel, file size: 376 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is in the public domain in the United States. ... // The Kodály Method is an approach to music education which was developed in Hungary during the mid-twentieth century. ... John Curwen (1816-1880) was an English Congregationalist minister, and founder of the Tonic Sol-fa system of musical teaching. ... Zoltán Kodály (IPA: ), (pronunciation, Zol-tan Kod-eye) (November 16, 1882 – March 6, 1967) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, educator, linguist and philosopher. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... This article is about the film; for the definition of the UFO related phenomenon, see Close encounter. ...

Cut it out

Made famous by Joey Gladstone on the hit TV series Full House, this gesture implies that you would like someone to quit doing whatever it is that they are doing, typically because it is destructive or annoying. It is given by first creating a scissors using your middle and index fingers, followed by a generic "point" at the target, and finally finished with a single thumbs up retracted back to point behind oneself.

Fig sign

The "fig sign" is an ancient gesture with many uses.

The "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 it is considered an obscene gesture, and in still others it is used in the "I've got your nose!" child's game. This gesture is also the letter "T" in the American Sign Language alphabet. In International Sign, which otherwise uses the same manual alphabet, "T" has been modified to avoid possible offense. gesture_fist_with_thumb_through_fingers File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... gesture_fist_with_thumb_through_fingers File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... The American Sign Language Alphabet is a manual alphabet that augments the vocabulary of American Sign Language when spelling individual letters of a word is the preferred or only option, such as with proper names or the titles of works. ... Gestuno or International Sign Language of the Deaf is a constructed sign language, which the World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf originally discussed in 1951. ...

In ancient Rome, this gesture was a fertility and good luck charm designed to ward off evil. Although this usage has survived in Brazil, where carved images of hands in this gesture are used in good luck talismans, in many other cultures, such as Greece, Indonesia, Turkey, Cyprus and Russia, the sign has come to have an insulting meaning roughly equivalent to "screw you", based on the thumb being seen as representing a clitoris or sexual intercourse. In modern Russia this gesture is used mostly by kids with the meaning "screw you/no way". The same meaning is expressed by adults either with bent elbow (rude, very emphatic, non-classy), or with a "finger" (used mostly by city dwellers). The "finger" made it to Russian gesture language from Western movies. In modern Italian, the gesture is called the mano fico, taken to mean "fig hand", as the Italian word for "fig" is fico (ficus in Latin). The obscene connotations of the gesture may partly originate from the fact that a similar Italian word, fica, is a slang term referring to the vulva. This sexual connotation may date back to ancient Roman times; some Roman amulets combine a phallus and a mano fico gesture. In Dante's Inferno, Vanni Fucci curses God with a "fig" gesture. [2] Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... An amulet from the Black Pullet grimoire. ... The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present in biologically female mammals. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (plural vulvae or vulvas)[1]. In common speech, the term vagina is often used improperly to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally, even though, strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific internal structure, whereas the... This article is about the symbol of the erect penis. ... Dante redirects here. ... Dante shown holding a copy of the Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelinos fresco. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ...

In some Balkan countries, particularly in the regions of Bosnia, Serbia, or Croatia, the "fig" sign is addressed as the "šipak", having the same connotation. In both contrast and comparison to the modern Russian "screw you/no way" meaning of the gesture, the sign is used, almost exclusively in situations aimed at being comical, to mean "nothing". For example, if one was to ask another person, usually a close affiliate, what they are to receive, either as a gift or something that the person expects the affiliate to give them, the affiliate would then form the šipak and present it in front of the other person (sometimes saying "šipak" as well). While the modern Russian meaning is almost exclusively used among children, the gesture's meaning amongst the certain Balkan regions are used by, but not limited to, children, as adults have also been known to use the gesture either with another adult or with a child (usually their own) in a comical manner. In Turkey, taking that fist, placing it in the left hand and then pushing it out to make a slapping sound with the wrist of the right hand is even more offensive, and is usually accompanied by a string of obscenities. These gestures are often seen at soccer games. ... This article is about the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ...

Also known as the Sicilian Fist in Sicily, worn as a good luck charm.

• Images of the "Sicilian Fist Charm" in Sicily

The gesture is also used in a trick played by adults and parents, with the intention of convincing their child that his or her nose has been taken away. Someone, usually an adult, grabs at the child's nose and forms the fig sign, exclaiming, "I've got your nose, I've got your nose!" The thumb is supposed to be the child's removed nose.

Many neopagans use this gesture as a symbol of the mother goddess to help adherents identify one another. In this context, it is referred to as the "Sign of the Goddess". Its counterpart is the corna sign. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... A Cucuteni culture statuette, 4th millennium BC. A mother goddess is a goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother, who serves as a general fertility deity, the bountiful embodiment of the earth. ... The Corna or Devil Horns The corna (Italian for horns, also mano cornuta, horned hand and fare le corna, to make the horns) is a gesture with a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries and a variety of meanings and uses in other cultures. ...

In The Gnostic Mass of Aleister Crowley, this gesture is assumed by the priest throughout the Mass when his lance is not in his hand. It is a phallic device and symbolizes copulation, the fruit of which is a fig, traditionally appropriated to Jupiter the phallic sky god. The use of "the ficus" in the Gnostic Mass replaces the sign of benediction (mentioned above) used in Christian ceremonies. Aleister Crowley wrote The Gnostic Mass—technically called Liber XV or Book 15—in 1913 while travelling in Moscow. ... Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947, pronounced ) was a British occultist, writer, mountaineer, philosopher, poet, and mystic. ...

Finger snap

One of several gestures familiar to modern people primarily through old animated cartoons, this gesture generally expresses a confident "screw you!" in the face of an adversary. The gesturer holds one hand out, palm up, in the direction of his antagonist and snaps his thumb and middle finger, generally accompanied by a high-nosed, "snooty" facial expression and followed by crossing the arms. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... A cartoon is any of several forms of art, with varied meanings that evolved from one to another. ...

In some countries, particularly Great Britain, snapping the fingers is used to signify remembering or failing to remember. Snapping the fingers repeatedly at a constant rate is commonly used to signify that the person has forgotten something and is trying to recall it. This is often done with the fingers snapped close to the temple, as though literally 'jogging the memory,' and is associated with the phrase 'it's on the tip of my tongue.'

A single snap, sometimes emphasized by an arced swing of the arm, is used when someone is reminded of something by another person, particularly if it is a job or a chore they have forgotten to do, or as a sign of disappointment or regret. Some people also snap their fingers to catch the attention of others. This is informal - some people may find it rude or even threatening, as it is common for the gesturer to snap his fingers very close to the other's face. In some cases, this may be interpreted as a face-threatening act or a sign of contempt.

In a classroom, children may snap their fingers to indicate that they are eager to give the answer to a question.

It can also be used when telling a story, to get a surprise effect. In Latin America this gesture is used as a way to say "Hurry up." The Beats (Beatniks) used to snap repeatedly as more reserved "cooler" applause.

Fours snaps in the shape of the letter Z are used to convey superiority or disdain for all others. This is called a "Z snap".

Finger beside nose

This gesture involves bringing the index finger to the side of the nose and is used in the USA, Canada and the UK to indicate that something secret is being told. It is often accompanied by a conspiratorial wink. Placing the finger beside the nose is often used by storytellers to signal that they are stretching the truth. As a variant, sometimes the finger is tapped next to the nose. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

It is similarly used as a response to a question to indicate to the questioner that their interlocutor cannot divulge the information sought.

In New York City, when referring to someone and making this symbol it means they are 'connected', or in the mafia. This article is about the criminal society. ...

Clement Moore's version of the Santa Claus story first used the now familiar phrase, "...laying his finger aside of his nose...," in which Santa, upon discovery, made this gesture and winked before vanishing up the chimney. Another interesting reference from the Urdu poem "The Fourth Era of Āb-e ḥayāt:Part Three" is as follows: "When the Navab's gaze fell on him, he placed a finger beside his nose [as women do] and recited." Clement Clarke Moore, (July 15, 1779 - July 10, 1863), was a professor at New York Citys General Theological Seminary (built on land donated by his father) who, in an 1836 reprint of A Visit From St. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ...

This can also be seen in "The Sting" when a non-con-artist with a grudge nearly gives away the big con.

Additionally, this can be used to indicate that one is "not it." Usually used when divvying up chores or other undesirable tasks while in a group. The last member of a group to indicate with this symbol becomes the one tasked with completing this chore.

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates along with senior cadets from Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets give the "gig 'em" sign at the Pentagon

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 585 pixelsFull resolution (3164 × 2312 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 585 pixelsFull resolution (3164 × 2312 pixel, file size: 3. ... The United States Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is the head of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), concerned with the armed services and military matters. ... Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense. ... Corps of Cadets Corps Stack The Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets (often The Fightin Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, The Corps of Cadets, or simply The Corps) is a student military organization at Texas A&M University. ... This article is about the United States military building. ...

Gig 'em Aggies

Main article: Gig 'em Aggies

Current and former students of Texas A&M University, as well as supporters of the school's athletic teams, widely use a thumbs-up sign associated with the cheer "Gig 'em Aggies" (or simply "Gig 'em"). The thumb refers to a "gig" used for hunting frogs. It was created around 1930. While its creation is universally credited to Pinky Downs, a 1906 A&M graduate who was then a member of the school's Board of Regents, stories of its origin vary. The most commonly cited story revolves around one of A&M's major rivals at that time, the TCU Horned Frogs (although the "frog" of TCU is actually a Texas horned lizard). It was the first hand sign to be used in the former Southwest Conference, the athletic conference that A&M and TCU, along with other schools, belonged to. Gig em Aggies is a tradition of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, United States. ... Texas A&M University redirects here. ... Texas A&M Aggies is the name given to the sports teams of Texas A&M University. ... Frog gigging in North America is the practice of hunting frogs with a spear. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Texas Christian University features 18 varsity sports teams. ... Binomial name Phrynosoma cornutum (Harlan, 1825) The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is one of 14 North American species of spikey-bodied reptiles called horned lizards. ... A 1970s logo from the old Southwest Athletic Conference. ...

Fans of opposing teams may turn the gesture against the Aggies by turning the thumb down, or turning it into a throat-slitting gesture.

"Hanging"

This gesture is performed by holding a clenched fist at the side of the head, tilting one's head away from one's fist, and making a choking sound. It may also be accompanied by hanging the tongue loosely out of one's mouth, and rolling of the eyes back into the head. It is generally used to signify "what I would rather be doing". It can also be used to show suicide.

Hook 'em Horns

Main article: Hook 'em Horns

George W. Bush gives the Hook 'em Horns salute to the Texas Longhorns marching band at his second inauguration.

In college sports in the United States, the "Hook 'em Horns" (or simply "Hook 'em") sign is associated with fans of the Texas Longhorns. The gesture is an imitation of the head of a Texas Longhorn, which serves as the school mascot. It was created in 1955 by a UT cheerleader in response to the increasingly popular "Gig 'em" hand signal created by arch rival Texas A&M twenty five years earlier. It is one of the most famous hand symbols in US college sports. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mano cornuto. ... Image File history File links Bush-horns. ... Image File history File links Bush-horns. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mano cornuto. ... University of Texas redirects here. ... An American college marching band on the field (Kansas State University) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement â€“ usually some type of marching and other movements  â€“ with their musical performance. ... For other uses, see Longhorn. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ...

Students, faculty, and alumni of the University of Texas are often seen to display this hand sign during sporting events, commencements, and other special occasions.^[2] They will often include the spoken or written phrase in conversations or writings, especially as a closing. The Hook 'em Horns symbol is the same physically as the mano cornuto gesture. They both have their origins in the imitation of a type of livestock, the longhorn on one hand and a goat on the other, though their meanings are very different.^[3] The Mano Cornuto as plastic art The mano cornuto (horned hand, in Italian) gesture, also known as the devil horns, goat horns, Hook em Horns, throwing the goat, or just the horns is made by making a fist and extending the index finger and the pinky, . This is not to...

The gesture is shown with the fingers pointed upward as a sign of support; if the fingers are pointed downward it is considered insulting to Longhorn fans (and thus is used by opposing fans).

In Major League Baseball, defensive players often use an identical gesture to each other to indicate the opposing team has two outs. The same gesture is used in American football to indicate a team faces second down. This gesture may be popular for indicating the number 2 because the fingers are further apart - making it easier to see that two (as opposed to one) fingers are raised when viewed from a distance. Major Leagues redirects here. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...

Horns

USF students at a home football game at Raymond James Stadium proudly displaying the Bulls sign.

Many neopagans use it as a symbol of the horned god to identify each other; in this context it is referred to as the "Sign of the Horned God". Its counterpart is the fig sign, above. Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... The Pashupati-like figure on the Gundestrup cauldron The Horned God is a modern syncretic term, invented to link together numerous male nature gods out of such widely-dispersed and historically unconnected mythologies as the Celtic Cernunnos, the Welsh Caerwiden, the English Herne the Hunter, the Hindu Pashupati, the Greek...

Some say that it is meant to ward off — or to bestow — the evil eye. It is also a representation of the Devil by some Satanists. The gesture's origin is believed to be an imitation of the shape of a goats head, which has many associations with the concept of Satan in Christianity Satan's Goat John Phillip, The Evil Eye (1859), a self-portrait depicting the artist sketching a Spanish gypsy who thinks she is being given the evil eye The evil eye is a folklore belief that the envy elicited by the good luck of fortunate people may result in their misfortune, whether it... This is an overview of the Devil. ... Satanism is a religious or philosophical movement centered around Satan or another entity identified with Satan, or centered around the forces of nature, particularly human nature, represented by Satan as an archetype. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is...

It has a variety of other meanings as well, depending on culture and area. In some places, it is a sexual insult, charging a man with being a victim of cuckoldry (this insult is most common in Spain, Portugal and Italy but is also used in Brazil). Perhaps because of its occult significance, it is used as a salute by fans of heavy metal music, often with a repeated forward bend of the wrist. If one reverses the extended fingers, one gets the "inverted heavy metal salute" which can be given as a reply to a heavy metal salute. In this case, the sign is known as "devil horns". This article is about the act of adultery. ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ... The mano cornuto (horned hand) gesture, also known as the devil horns, goat horns, Hook em Horns, or just the horns, is made by making a fist and extending the index finger and the pinky (figure A) . This is not to be confused with the ASL I Love You sign...

Also a common hand gesture used by the University of Texas at Austin as well as the University of South Florida. The University of South Florida (USF), known within its system as USF Tampa[2][3][4], is a public university system located in Tampa, Florida, USA, with an autonomous campus in St. ...

How sad

This gesture (also called "Playing the World's Smallest Violin") is made by rubbing the thumb and index finger together. It is used to show lack of sympathy for someone telling a sad story.

I-love-you sign

Made using a combination of the letters 'I', 'L', and 'Y' from American Sign Language. It is made by extending the thumb, index finger, and little finger while the middle and ring finger touch the palm. It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ...

Index finger

Made with the palm forward and the index finger up, this is a warning sign ("watch out!") to a particular person (in western culture). When made in a group of people, it is an indication that one wants to speak. Making a motion side to side with the index finger indicates the equivalent of "no, no".

Shaking the index finger toward the interlocutor and back several times, when used by adult toward the child, means "do not do this, I will punish you". This is known as "noo-noo-noo" gesture in Russia and in Israel, and as a "finger wag" in the United States.

In the middle east and other parts of the muslim world it stands for one God or representing the shahadah (the first pillar of Islam).

Knocking on wood

Main article: touch wood

This signifies the neutralization of a jinxing brought on by mentioning an either hoped-for or feared result. The knuckles are rapped on a nearby piece of wood (or, jokingly, someone's head). Usually this is only valid if done on bare (i.e. unpainted) wood. One possible reason for the tradition could have been from an animist culture who believed that the knocking would release spirits to protect them. It has also been said to stem from a belief that any nearby evil spirits who overhear somebody speaking of good fortune which has come his way may send some bad luck to offset it; knocking on wood was thought to keep the spirits from hearing. It is also known as "tapping wood" or "touching wood". Look up knock on wood, touch wood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Jinx (disambiguation). ... This article is in need of attention. ...

In Italy, one knocks on iron with the hand in the corna horns position. The horns position represents the devil and by knocking it on iron it is a symbolic gesture of defeating or casting away evil. The use of iron possibly comes from the use of nails in Christ's crucifixion. The Corna or Devil Horns The corna (Italian for horns, also mano cornuta, horned hand and fare le corna, to make the horns) is a gesture with a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries and a variety of meanings and uses in other cultures. ...

In Russia, this is used to indicate that someone being talked about is stupid (and refers to a joke about a Russian peasant).

Knocking on wood deals with protection from evil spirits or evil caused by jealousy or envy. The reason for wood is because Christ was crucified on wood and hence by knocking on it the person gets Christ's protection from misfortune.

"When Saint Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, visiting the Holy Land and seeking the True Cross upon which Jesus was crucified, found the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, the Cross was venerated by all the faithful in many public processions. Many faithful would come to touch the Holy Cross for blessing and healing. It was customary to touch the Wood of Life three times (as a confession of faith in the Holy Trinity). This act of touching the True Cross became the earliest recorded histories of 'knocking on wood.' Whenever the Holy Cross was put forth for public veneration, touching it, or as English translations render it 'knocking,' became common liturgical practice. Once the Holy Cross was transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Great Church of the Holy Wisdom (aka Saint Sophia), Christians continued this piety by touching or knocking on any cross or crucifix (wood was the medium of the day) for blessings and healings. This ancient tradition has been with us for over 1,600 years and has been a pious tradition to this day where people tend to touch anything made of wood ... but all interpretations of this behavior point back directly to Jerusalem in the 4th century CE and the True Cross." (Prof Anastasios Zavales Phd ThD, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the USA).

Middle finger

Main article: The finger

"The finger" is a very common offensive hand gesture.

"The finger" is a gesture consisting of a fist with the middle finger extended. It appears to be universally understood as "fuck you"or get stuffed due to its resemblance to the penis. It is certainly thousands of years old, being referred to in Ancient Roman literature as the digitus infamis or digitus impudicus. Performing this gesture is also called "flipping the bird" in countries where "the finger" is used. In other regions, "flipping the bird" refers to the raising of the middle and index finger with the back of the hand directed at the recipient. It can also mean "Victor" (see V Sign, below) in some countries, which is not to be mistaken for the "Peace" gesture, which is done with the palm facing the recipient of the gesture, but in Britain and some other countries it is an offensive gesture, equivalent to "the finger". George W. Bush can be seen making the gesture while he was the Governor of Texas, while goofing off before beginning filming of a public address. This is also known as a one finger salute, or international salute. Will Smith as Agent J in Men_in_Black_(film) rubs his forehead using this gesture when told "When you grow up" you can have a standard neuralizer. This article is about the gesture. ... This article is about the gesture. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy action film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent DOnofrio. ...

Former professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin used the finger quite frequently in WWE shows. He raises both of the fingers to the crowd as a way of saluting to them. Also, he gestures the finger at his opponent before kicking them in the stomach and performing the Stone Cold Stunner. ... Steven James Williams (born Steven Anderson on December 18, 1964)[2] better known by his ring name Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Steve Austin hits his Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H. A Stunner is a common sequence in professional wrestling referring to the three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver. ...

Comedian Dane Cook parodied the gesture with his "Super Finger" gesture, which consists of raising the middle finger, ring finger, and thumb on the same hand while lowering (or curling) the index and little fingers. It is meant to be a more "powerful" version of "the finger". Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. ...

The middle finger is also used to represent the number four when one counts in the binary system using one's fingers.^[4]

When this gesture is made with the palm facing forward, it is known to Chaotes practicing Lovecraftian magick as the "Sign of Kish". Another Lovecraftian sign is the "Sign of Koth", which consists of fully extending the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, while the thumb is tucked against the flat of the hand. Chaos magic is a relatively new form of ceremonial magic, generally involving paradigm shifting and empty-handed rituals. ... H. P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of fantasy and horror fiction, noted for giving horror stories a science fiction framework. ...

Money sign

The thumb rubs repeatedly over the tip of the index finger and middle fingers. The ring and little fingers touch the palm. This gesture is meant to resemble the act of rubbing two coins together (alternatively the act of counting paper bills) and has a general meaning of "money", or "expensive".

OK

Main article: Okay

This is the touching of the index and middle finger (or just index finger) with the thumb (forming a rough circle) with the raising of the remaining fingers. In the United States and most of Europe, it means "OK" and is inoffensive. The OK sign is used extensively in scuba diving. It can also mean "0," or "money," in Japan. However, in Germany, it is often seen on the Autobahn^{[citation needed]}, as a silent way of calling someone an "Asshole" (with the fingers extended horizontally). Similar vulgar meanings are found in other countries, but usually you have to turn the 'Ring' upside down (supinated to show the ring in front) like this example from Brazil. It is then a sexual or scatological gesture referring to the anus Okay is an informal term of approval, assent, or acknowledgment, sometimes written as OK or O.K.. (See also A-OK.) When used to describe the quality of a thing, it denotes being fit for purpose (this is okay to send out) or of a quality which is acceptable but... Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. ... Zero redirects here. ... For other uses, see Money (disambiguation). ... This article is about the bodily orifice. ...

Moutza (palm of hand)

Main article: Moutza

In most places, a palm raised towards somebody means "stop". A moutza (μούντζα) is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks which consists of extending all fingers and presenting the palm towards the to-be-insulted person. ...

In Greece, the palm of the hand thrust towards somebody with the fingers splayed is an offensive gesture equivalent to giving the finger. The gesture is known in Greek as "moutza". It originates from the Byzantine punishment of parading a chained criminal around town with his face smeared with cinder, or moutzos in Greek. An even more offensive version is achieved by using both hands to double the gesture, and smacking the palm of one hand against the back of the other, in the direction of the intended recipient. Both the one-handed and the two-handed versions of this gesture can be (and often are) combined with the term "na!", meaning "here you go!" or "there!", or "na, malaka!", meaning "there, you wanker!" In Latin America, something similar is used. Except when the fingers touch the top of the palm as if one holds a baseball to throw a knuckball. Usually when thrusted (bottom of the palm pointed to the person) to the person it means "fuck you." If the thrust is started from the rib cage then its generally meant to "fuck your mother." This gesture is highly offensive. A cinder is a fragment of cooled pyroclastic material (lava or magma). ...

Patience

Palm up, index and middle fingers touching the thumb, remaining fingers folded against the palm, and wrist bending slightly, up and down about three times, so that the touching fingers move toward and away from the gesturer. This gesture is used as a reproachful and exasperated request for patience in response to a request to be served immediately out of turn or for something to happen faster than is possible.

Pointing

A man pointing at a woman during a political argument.

The typical pointing with the index finger is a gesture used in many cultures. Some cultures use the middle finger (certain regions of India). Other cultures also point with the thumb, often when referring to something behind the speaker. Military signalmen use hand and body gestures to direct flight operations aboard aircraft carriers. ... The second digit of a human hand is also referred to as the index finger, pointer finger, forefinger, trigger finger, digitus secundus, or digitus II. It is located between the first and third digits - that is, between the thumb and the middle finger. ...

In Western cultures pointing directly with the index finger at a person is considered rude. A more polite way of pointing to a person would be to direct the hand in their direction, as if holding a plate.

There are many other ways to point, for example with the hand, a head nod or an eye gaze. In some Native American cultures, one actually points with the nose, avoiding the disrespect associated with pointing fingers. Some use lip pointing, for instance the Misquite in Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as Spanish speaking city dwellers in large parts of northwestern South America and it is also a common sight in the Philippines. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ...

Pound fist

Pound fist is a greeting, in which two individuals touch fists. It is also known as a Dap greeting. Howie Mandel greets contestants on Deal or No Deal in this manner due to his mysophobia. Dap is a form of handshake that originated in the 1960s among African Americans. ... Howie Michael Mandel II (born November 29, 1955) is a Canadian comedian and actor, primarily for his roles on sitcoms and television. ... The United States version of Deal or No Deal, hosted by actor-comedian Howie Mandel, premiered on December 19, 2005 on NBC and ran during the following four consecutive nights. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

In Major League Baseball, players will sometimes pound fists after a great play, such as hitting a home run with men on base or turning a double play.

Also known as respect knuckles.

Raising a hand

Man in Pioneer plaque raising hand to (non-verbally) say "hello".

Raising a hand is a gesture that conveys hello.^[5] This gesture is close to salute, and is also used in an audience when one wishes to speak or be recognized. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2891x2290, 387 KB) version with white background Authors: Designed by Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2891x2290, 387 KB) version with white background Authors: Designed by Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. ... The illustration on the Pioneer plaque The Pioneer plaques are a pair of aluminum plaques which were placed on board the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft, featuring a pictorial message from humanity, in case either Pioneer 10 or 11 are intercepted by extraterrestrial beings. ... Look up hello in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the gesture. ...

Salute

Main article: Salute

There are many forms of salute gestures, most of which are used to denote respect or obedience for an authority. A common military hand salute consists of raising the right hand, held flat, to the right eyebrow. Scouting organizations use related salutes. The armies of various countries adopt slightly different forms of salute: in the United States, the military salute places the hand directed outward over the eyebrow, like a visor; in the United Kingdom armed forces, the hand is brought to the forehead palm outward in military and air force contexts, whereas the naval salute is as in the US forces - the US forces derived their saluting habits from the Royal Navy. This article is about the gesture. ... This article is about the gesture. ... This article is about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts/Girl Guides organizations. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ...

One of the most infamous forms of salute is the "Hitler salute", which is performed by extending the whole right arm, palm outstretched and facing down, upwards into the air at approximately a 45 degree angle from the ground. Sometimes, this is accompanied by holding the index and middle fingers under the nose, representing Hitler's iconic moustache. This gesture is associated with Nazism and its leader, Adolf Hitler, as well as with Germany during World War II. It is occasionally performed to mock someone or something for perceived authoritarianism or bigotry. This gesture was based on the Roman salute, and it was in that capacity that it was revived by French Revolutionaries and later by Benito Mussolini's Fascist party. Adolf Hitler and others at a Nazi party rally in Nuremberg, Germany, performing the salute. ... Nazism in history Nazi ideology Nazism and race Outside Germany Related subjects Lists Politics Portal         Nazism or National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), refers primarily to the ideology and practices of the Nazi Party (National Socialist German Workers Party, German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) under Adolf Hitler. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      This article applies to political and organizational ideologies. ... For people named Bigot and other meanings, see Bigot (disambiguation). ... The Oath of the Horatii (1784), by Jacques-Louis David The Roman salute is a gesture in which the arm is held out forward straight, with palm down. ... Sketch by Jacques-Louis David of the Tennis Court Oath. ... Mussolini redirects here. ... Fascist redirects here. ...

In some countries, mostly in Europe, it is forbidden by law to perform this gesture, although this does not deter Neo-Nazis and white supremacists from using the gesture in public rallies. Even in other countries, it is generally considered taboo to use the gesture^[6], and this partly caused the United States to abandon the similar Bellamy salute used when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, in favor of the current hand-on-heart gesture. The terms Neo-Nazism and Neo-Fascism refer to any social or political movement to revive Nazism or Fascism, respectively, and postdates the Second World War. ... Students reciting the pledge using the Bellamy salute. ... The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise or oath of allegiance to the United States and the its national flag. ...

Shaka

Main article: Shaka sign

The "shaka" sign is a common greeting in beach and surfer culture.

The "shaka" sign is a common greeting gesture often associated with Hawaii, California, and beach and surfer culture in general. It consists of extending the thumb and little finger while keeping the three middle fingers curled, and is often described colloquially as the "hang loose"or "chilax" gesture. It is similar to American Sign Language letter "Y", where a fist is also made with only the thumb and little finger extended. The sign is often followed by waving as a greeting or acknowledgment. It can be used when driving as a signal of thanks to other drivers (for example, someone who stopped to let another driver onto the road from a driveway). This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... gesture_raised_fist_with_thumb_and_pinky_lifted File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... gesture_raised_fist_with_thumb_and_pinky_lifted File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Beach (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Surfing (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ...

The "shaka" sign is also the greeting gesture for members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. which is the "phi" sign. All African-American Greek fraternities and sororities have hand greeting gestures. Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans. ...

Similar gestures

In Britain and Northern Europe the symbol is used as a signal for owners of older model Volkswagen vans when passing on roads. The silhouette of the hand reveals a "W"-shaped outline along the top of the hand standing for Volkswagen. VW redirects here. ...

In Spain and Italy, if the thumb points to the mouth, it means "drinking", since it is similar the shape of a porrón vessel. This is also true of the United States, Portugal and Brazil. A porrón is a traditional glass wine pitcher, typical of Catalonia but famous throughout Spain. ...

In some countries, if the thumb points to the mouth, it can also represent marijuana usage, in particular the use of a bong. This is usually accompanied by a sucking noise. A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ... A bong, also commonly known as a water pipe, is a smoking device, generally used to smoke cannabis or tobacco, but also other substances. ...

In China, it is also the sign for the number six.

A similar gesture is the "call me" sign, which also has the little finger and thumb outstretched, but then also holds it up to the ear, to signify a telephone. This is sometimes accompanied by mouthing the words "call me" or "I'll call you". This gesture is a common way to silently tell someone to call him or her, such as to continue a conversation in private.

It is also used by FC Barcelona player Ronaldinho as part of his goal celebration. Fútbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (pronounced ), is a Spanish sports club based in Barcelona. ... For other persons named Ronaldinho, see Ronaldinho (disambiguation). ...

In India, rolling the shaka in a winding motion signifies that the listener does not believe what is being said and that the speaker needs to "spool in the yarn from spinning out too far".

In American Sign Language, a "rolling" version of this sign indicates the activity "play", often used by non-verbal people (e.g. pre-speech children) to ask if one wants to play or to indicate that the signer wishes to play. The Shaka sign is also used by pro wrestler john cena. It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ...

Shocker

Main article: Shocker (hand gesture)

Example of the shocker.

The "shocker" is a crude gesture common in North America. It involves touching the ring finger to the palm and covering it with the thumb, the remaining fingers remain outstretched and not touching. This represents the act of putting the index and middle fingers in the vagina and the little finger in the anus to surprise or "shock" the recipient. This sign is commonly used in candid photographs to shock the photographer by making them think of the original meaning of the sign. Common Mnemonic devices to explain this are "two in the pink, one in the stink" "two in the clit, one in the shit" "two in the goo, one in the poo" and so forth. Example of the Shocker. ... Image File history File links Shocker_example. ... Image File history File links Shocker_example. ...

Shush

This gesture is used to demand or request silence from those to whom it is directed. The index finger of one hand is extended, with the remaining fingers curled toward the palm with the thumb forming a fist. The index finger is placed vertically in front of the lips. Often, the lips will be formed as if to make a "shh" sound, whether or not a sound is made.

An alternate gesture with the same meaning involves the thumb and forefinger moving horizontally across the lips, as if one would be closing a zipper. Zipper slider brings together the two sides A zipper (British English: zip fastener or zip) is a popular device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric. ...

To further exaggerate on the action, some place their index finger and thumb together, curl the other fingers towards the palm and twist their hand in a fashion similar to locking a door. This is done after zipping the mouth and while their hand is still at the corner of their lips. Some may also imitate throwing the key away so as to show that the person should not open their mouths.

This action of zipping the mouth and throwing away the key may also take on the meaning of telling someone that you will keep your mouth shut about a secret.

"Thanks!" salute

Another gesture familiar from vintage cartoons, this is performed by sweeping an opened hand from near one's brow toward the person being addressed, and expresses gratitude. It is adapted from American Sign Language, and alludes to tipping your hat or cap. It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ...

Three middle fingers

Gestures consisting of fully extending the index, middle, and ring fingers with the thumb and little fingers tucked together under the palm have had a variety of meanings over the years. The phrase Three-finger salute can refer to: Three-finger salute - a three key combination that causes an operating system interrupt Three-finger salute - the salute of the World Scouting Movement This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

To Chaotes practicing Lovecraftian magick, this gesture is known as the "Sign of the Elders." With the palm facing outwards, the fingers closed (without gaps), the left hand's fingertips to the same-side temple, it is used by the Boy scouts as their identifying salute. Chaos magic is a relatively new form of ceremonial magic, generally involving paradigm shifting and empty-handed rituals. ... H. P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of fantasy and horror fiction, noted for giving horror stories a science fiction framework. ... This article is about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts/Girl Guides organizations. ... This article is about the gesture. ...

In the United States, when the back of the hand faces outwards, this gesture is often used as a euphemism for "the finger." It is used especially when a jocular effect is desired. Originally, an accompanying verbal explanation was usual — "Read between the lines," referring to the common English expression denoting that one must read carefully to glean the subtle meaning in a passage — but this phrase is now commonly omitted. A euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener; or in the case of doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker. ... Subtext is content of a book, play, film or television series which is not announced explicitly by the characters (or author) but is implicit or becomes something understood by the reader / viewer as the production unfolds. ...

Serbian three fingers

The Serbian three fingers.

Raising the thumb, index and middle finger (три прста) was used by Bosnian Serbs as a victory sign, representing the Christian Trinity, during the Bosnian War. This article is about a salute used by some Serbs. ... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... This article is about the Christian Trinity. ... Combatants Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Predominantly Bosniak) Army of Republika Srpska, Yugoslav Peoples Army, various paramilitary units from Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian) Croatian Defence Council, Croatian Army (Croatian) Commanders Alija Izetbegović (President of Bosnia and Herzegovina) Sefer Halilović (Army chief of staff 1992-1993) Rasim...

Thumbs up, thumbs down

A closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward is a gesture of approval or disapproval, respectively. These gestures have become metaphors in English: "My boss gave my proposal the thumbs-up" means that the boss approved the proposal, regardless of whether the gesture was made — indeed, the gesture itself is unlikely in a business setting.

The source of the gesture is obscure. Though a favorite of Hollywood 'swords and sandals' epics, where the "thumbs down" symbol means that the loser in a gladiatorial combat should be put to death, recent research suggests the meanings of the symbols have changed over the years. In 1997, Professor Anthony Philip Corbeill of the University of Kansas concluded that the thumbs up actually meant "Kill him," basing his assertion on a study of hundreds of ancient artworks. The crowds would point their thumbs "up", the thumb pointing to the throat which held a similar meaning to moving one's thumb across their throat. Thus, the "thumbs up" was an approval of the gladiator's request to kill his vanquished foe rather than a vote to allow the defeated to remain alive. Corbeill wrote that a closed fist with a wraparound thumb was the indication for a gladiator's life to be spared. D. W. Griffith set out to depict the splendor of ancient Babylon in Intolerance. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... The University of Kansas (often referred to as KU or just Kansas) is an institution of higher learning in Lawrence, Kansas. ...

Pollice Verso by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872 is the immediate source of the "thumbs down" gesture in popular culture.

In Latin, the "thumbs up" gesture is called pollice recto, "thumbs down" is pollice verso. It is not certain that the contemporary gestures are identical to the gestures performed in ancient Rome. The current version was popularized by a widely reproduced academic painting by the 19th century artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose Pollice Verso depicts a triumphant gladiator standing over a fallen foe, looking up into the bleachers for the verdict of the crowd. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Year 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Birth of Venus, Alexandre Cabanel, 1863 Academic art is a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies or universities. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pollice Verso by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872, is the immediate source of the thumbs down gesture in popular culture. ... For other uses, see Bleach (disambiguation). ...

Additionally, Desmond Morris' Gestures: Their Origins and Distribution traces the practice back to a medieval custom used to seal business transactions... Over time, the mere sight of an upraised thumb came to symbolize harmony and kind feelings... The gesture's popularization in America is generally attributed to the practices of World War II pilots, who used the thumbs up to communicate with ground crews prior to take-off. American GIs are reputed to have picked up on the thumb and spread it throughout Europe as they marched toward Berlin." [3] Dr Desmond Morris (born 24 January 1928 in the village of Purton, UK) is most famous for his work as a zoologist and ethologist. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ...

More recently, these gestures are associated with movie reviews, having been popularized by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in their televised reviews — the thumb up meaning a positive opinion of a film; the thumb down meaning a negative one. One or two thumbs up, often held over the head, may also be used by athletes in celebration of a victory. This article is about motion pictures. ... Look up Review in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Eugene Gene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was one of the worlds most successful film critics. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ...

"'Thumbs up' traditionally translates as the foulest of Middle-Eastern gesticular insults — the most straightforward interpretation is 'Up yours, pal!' The sign has a similarly pejorative meaning in parts of West Africa, South America, Russia, Iran, Greece, and Sardinia, according to Roger E. Axtell's book Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World."[4]

Hitchhikers traditionally use a thumbs up gesture to solicit rides from oncoming vehicles, although in this presentation the arm is generally outstretched with the palm and closed fingers facing the motorist. People who have the genetic ability to bend the tip of their thumb backwards are said to have "hitchhiker's thumb," which is a reference to the original gesture. Hitchhiking (also called lifting or thumbing) is a form of transport, in which the traveller tries to get a lift (ride) from another traveller, usually a car or truck driver. ...

Additionally, supporters of Texas A&M University athletic teams use the thumbs-up sign, associated with the cheer, "Gig 'em, Aggies." The Thumb refers to a "gig" used for hunting frogs. The saying came when the Aggies had a big rival in the Southwest Conference in the TCU Horned Frogs. Texas A&M University redirects here. ...

Thumbs up and thumbs down are extensively used in scuba diving as commands to ascend or descend.

WWE Superstar Batista uses this gesture to signify his finisher, the Batista Bomb. The inspiration was due to Triple H using it in a Roman-esque betrayal of Randy Orton upon kicking him out of Evolution. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... David Michael Bautista (born January 18, 1969),[1] better known as Dave Batista or by the ring name Batista, is an American professional wrestler. ... This page may meet Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Paul Michael Levesque[4] (born July 27, 1969)[4] is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of his former Hunter Hearst Helmsley moniker. ... Randal Randy Keith Orton[1] (born on April 1, 1980), nicknamed The Legend Killer, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand. ... Evolution was a Heel stable on World Wrestling Entertainments RAW brand consisting of Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Triple H, and Batista. ...

Tsk-tsk

Palm towards the recipient, all fingers closed except for the index, which alternates from left to right, like a metronome. In English-speaking countries it has a disapproving meaning and can be accompanied by a "tsk-tsk" sound. This is also known as "finger-wagging". A mechanical wind-up metronome in motion A digital metronome set to pulse at four beats per measure at a tempo of 130 BPM A metronome is any device that produces a regulated audible and/or visual pulse, usually used to establish a steady beat, or tempo, measured in beats... A catchphrase used by Niax to describe tuting in a text based enviroment. ...

In Italy and Brazil it simply means "no", and does not have any patronizing connotation.

Talk to the hand

Main article: Talk to the hand (expression)

Talk to the hand (Cagliari)

This gesture is used as a physical interjection to express indifference or contempt and interrupt what someone is saying. The arm is extended with the hand vertical and palm facing and centred around the face of the other individual.

Throat slash

A sign made by moving one's thumb across one's throat. It is often used as an insult to imply one's (often athletic) superiority over another. This is considered a form of taunting. In some sports leagues, this can be called as a foul, such as in NCAA basketball, where making this gesture is, by rule, an automatic technical foul. The gesture is also illegal in the NFL. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often said NC-Double-A) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletics programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... This article is about the sport. ... In basketball, a technical foul is an infraction of the rules usually concerning unsportsmanlike non-contact behavior. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ...

The late wrestler Chris Benoit would use this move prior to executing his "swan-dive headbutt". Another wrestler, The Undertaker, uses a similar hand gesture prior to executing his "tombstone pile-driver". Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: ) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. ... For the Combichrist song, see Everybody Hates You Mark Calaway (born March 24, 1965[2][3]) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name The Undertaker. ...

In Japan, it is to show one's failure, and could also mean to be dismissed or fired.

Thumbing the nose

A sign of derision made by putting your thumb on your nose and wiggling your fingers. Originated in the 1640s in Vienna. Gained popularity when Shakespeare is said to have 'thumbed his nose' at Edmond Rostand.

V sign

Richard Nixon gives the V-sign one last time after resigning from the presidency.

Main article: V sign

The "V sign" is made by lifting the middle and index finger with the palm of the hand facing the recipient (and the remaining fingers clenched). It was associated with the catchphrase "V" for Victory in World War II. In the 1960s, it came to be known as the "peace sign," the gestural equivalent of the peace symbol. It was associated with British prime minister Winston Churchill during World War II, and later, with U.S. president Richard Nixon. It is also the sign for the letter V in American Sign Language. Image File history File links Richard Nixon delivering the V sign outside Army One upon his final departure from the White House Photograph by Robert L. Knudsen, August 9, 1974, National Archives (http://www. ... Image File history File links Richard Nixon delivering the V sign outside Army One upon his final departure from the White House Photograph by Robert L. Knudsen, August 9, 1974, National Archives (http://www. ... Nixon redirects here. ... The V sign is a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched. ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... Gari Melchers, Mural of Peace, 1896. ... Peace sign redirects here. ... Churchill redirects here. ... Nixon redirects here. ... It has been suggested that ASL Grammar be merged into this article or section. ...

This sign is frequently used by the Japanese, most times holding up 2 "V" signs very close to either side of their face with a big grin during pictures.

In the UK, Australia, and some other countries, reversing the V sign so that the back of the hand faces the recipient is seen as the equivalent of giving the finger. Popular myth supposes it was originally a taunt by English longbow archers towards the French who were known to cut off an English archer's first and middle fingers if captured. The finger In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. ...

Additionally, due to its use in an advertisement for the Australian made Valiant Charger (which ceased production around 1980) many people still display the V sign, in homage to the ad and the car, if that vehicle happens to be driven past.

Pro Wrestler in the WWE Big Daddy V does it as his signature taunt and before he gets in the ring

Vulcan salute

Main article: Vulcan salute

The Vulcan salute consists of a raised hand, palm outward, fingers extended, with the index and middle fingers kept close together, and the ring and little fingers close together, with a "V" shaped space between them, and the thumb sticking out alone. Blessing gesture that was the inspiration for the Vulcan salute. ...

This gesture is associated with the phrase "Live long and prosper", and derives from Star Trek, where it is used as a salute by fictional humanoid species the Vulcans. This article is about the entire Star Trek franchise. ... For the Vulcan homeworld, see Vulcan (Star Trek planet). ...

It was introduced by Leonard Nimoy in his character of Mr. Spock and is drawn directly from the benedictory gesture made with both hands by a Kohen (priest in Judaism, a descendant of Aaron) during the Priestly Blessing (Hebrew: Birkat Kohanim). The Kohanim recite a blessing while performing this "gesture" and the other congregants respond with Amens. Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. ... Spock, commonly called Mr. ... Cohen (disambiguation) Position of the kohens hands and fingers during the Priestly Blessing A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן, priest, pl. ... The Priestly Blessing, (in Hebrew: Birkat Kohanim, ברכת כהנים) is a Jewish ceremony and prayer recited during certain specific Jewish services. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... Cohen (disambiguation) Position of the kohens hands and fingers during the Priestly Blessing A kohen (or cohen, Hebrew כּהן, priest, pl. ... This article is about the Hebrew word. ...

This gesture is also known as the "Spocker" in allusion to the Shocker. Example of the Shocker. ...

Wanker

Wanker

A loose fist (with all fingers forming a cylindrical shape) is made, and shaken up and down (or sometimes, back and forth) at the wrist. fingers_and_thumb_in_circle_downward_motion File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ... fingers_and_thumb_in_circle_downward_motion File links The following pages link to this file: Gesture Categories: GFDL images ...

The gesture is imitative of the motions of male masturbation. Its meaning is equivalent to the word wanker or implies something is of little importance. If directed to a person or group, who are not necessarily present, it is considered a display of contempt toward them. Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... Look up wanker in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The name for this gesture is described by speakers of American English as a Britishism. For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... Britishisms are expressions peculiar to British English, including British idioms. ...

In Portugal they use the wanker gesture but with the palm facing the ground thereby implying that the person is masturbating someone else rather than themselves. As such this has homosexual or promiscuous implications when directed at someone instead of the milder suggestion that they enjoy self-gratification. Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ...

In the United States, this gesture can indicate contempt, particularly indicating that the gesturer thinks something is a waste of time.

Wave

Waving

A wave is a gesture in which the hand is raised and moved back and forth, as a greeting or sign of departure. The orientation of the hand varies by culture and situation. In many cultures, the palm is oriented toward the recipient of the wave. Greeting is a way for human beings (as well as other members of the animal kingdom) to intentionally communicate awareness of each others presence, to show attention to, and/or to affirm or suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in...

In Chinese culture, orienting the hand palm-down and waving it up and down signifies "come here", rather than a greeting.

Whoop-Dee-Doo

Point the index finger up and rotate it. This simulates the waving of a tiny, sarcastic flag and is a usually used as a response gesture to indicate something is uninteresting or irrelevant. Similar to saying a sarcastic "Whoop-Dee-Doo" or "Big deal".

Using two hands

Air quotes

Main article: Air quotes

This phrase refers to using one's fingers to make virtual quotation marks in the air when speaking. AIR QUOTES ARE ANNOYING! SAYS WHO? SAYS ME! FUCK AIR QUOTES! I HATE THEM! THEYRE JUST SICK VARIANTS OF THE PEACE SIGN! ... The symbol ″, while technically the double-prime, is also used to mean inch. ...

Asking for the time

Common in the United States and Canada, a silent way of asking someone else what time it is. One hand is usually clenched into a downturned loose fist, bent at the wrist, while the index finger on the other hand is used to tap the bent wrist as if pointing to a wristwatch. This page is about timekeeping devices. ...

Awkward Turtle

The Awkward Turtle is a gesture made after something awkward just happened, or when there is an awkward silence. To perform an awkward turtle there are three steps to take. First, place your hands on top of each other with both palms facing down and the fingers pointing forward. Next, move thumbs out and away from the hands. Finally, rotate the thumbs.

"Gills"

This gesture involves holding the backs of the wrists against the jawline (with elbows outstretched) and then waggling one's fingers. The gesture is often accompanied by a feminine-voiced "Ooooo!" which rises and falls in intonation. It is used when one would normally say (sarcastically) "well aren't you clever?", or to imply that someone is acting too posh for their station.

Finger on nose and point

Simultaneously bringing the index finger of one hand to the point of your nose, and pointing at someone with the index finger of the other hand means 'you've got it'. For example, if you are explaining something, and the other person suddenly makes a statement which demonstrates complete understanding - 'you've got it'. Used in Charades.

"Shame on you"

This gesture involves pointing at a person with the index finger of one hand while rubbing the pointed finger with the index finger of the opposite hand. The rubbing motion is directed toward the intended recipient and is repeated at least twice. It is used to imply that the targeted person should feel shame.

In Flanders, Denmark, and also in the German-speaking countries, this gesture is used in children games to indicate "we got you/we're smarter than you/we laugh at you", often accompanied by the mocking sing-song "AhahahaHAha!" shouted out loudly. For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ...

Scream

The palms are against the sides of the face, eyes wide and mouth open round. This gesture is depicted in Edvard Munch's The Scream. Also, Macaulay Culkin became famous for this gesture in the movie Home Alone. To imitate the painting, there may be a small space between the palms and the face. It is used to express great horror. With the mouth closed, it is used to express dismay. A similar gesture, placing the hands against the front of the face, little fingers parallel and touching, can express sadness, remorse, or speechlessness over any bad event. The Scream. ... For other uses, see Scream. ... Macaulay Carson Culkin (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. ... Home Alone is a 1990 comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. ...

Time-out

The "time-out" gesture — a "T" formed with the hands, with one hand with flat palm placed perpendicular to the other hand with flat palm, roughly in the center — originates in American sports. It is used by players to signal for a time out, or brief pause in play. In basketball, the gesture is additionally used by referees to indicate that a player or coach is guilty of a technical foul. In the Northern California Hyphy movement the gesture is known as "puttin' your T's up" and indicates a preference for MDMA , colloquially known as "thizz." The gesture was popularized by Hyphy icon Mac Dre, who was notorious for his use of MDMA. A time-out in sport is when the game is stopped for a short amount of time. ... This article is about the sport. ... In basketball, a technical foul is an infraction of the rules usually concerning unsportsmanlike non-contact behavior. ... Hyphy (pronounced HI-fee; IPA: ) is a style of music and dance primarily associated with the Bay Area hip hop culture. ... ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ... Andre Hicks (July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004), better known by his stage name, Mac Dre, was a San Francisco Bay Area-based gangsta rapper from Vallejo, California. ... ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ...

In Portugal this gesture is used to say "Please give me some time" (or some more time).

"Tea?"

Similar to the "time-out" gesture, here the vertical bar of the "T" is formed with the index finger of the opposite hand instead of the whole hand. It is used, primarily in Britain, to silently offer the recipient a cup of tea.

Whatever!

A gesture associated with Valley Girls. Forming the letter "W" by extending the two index fingers upward and touching the thumbs together at a 45 degree angle, this hand sign is used silently or in conjunction with an uttered "Whatever!" (pronounced with a slight pause after the first syllable, emphasis on the second, and drawing out the third syllable to a hard "r"). It is a sarcastic response dismissing whatever has just been said to the person making the gesture. For other uses, see Valley girl (disambiguation). ...

`X-Factor`

The X-Factor is a gesture used by many athletes (usually pro) as a way of "showing off" or gloating. It is done by crossing your arms so they form an "X" and raising them slightly above eye level. (this gesture is seen in the video game NFL Street. In Japan and Hawaii, it is a signal to bus-drivers that you are not taking their bus. More importantly it means no in Japan. Also it can be made also by crossing fingers to mean not so big no, to avoid causing embarrassment to recipient.

However, if you are in the audience or watching America's Got Talent, that means the act is bad and that the judges should "X" them out. This variation uses fists. This was very heavily evidenced in the Season 2 audition episodes. Americas Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network. ...

In the WWE, the group D-Generation X used to use a variation on this gesture, wherein the arms are crossed in the shape of an X and then thrown towards a persons crotch.

Hand with body gestures

Image File history File links Merge-arrow. ... See mouse gesture for gestures in computing Military signalmen use hand and body gestures to direct flight operations aboard aircraft carriers. ... Shortcut: WP:TP A talk page is a special Wikipedia page containing discussion about the contents of its associated subject page. ...

Bent elbow

This is performed in two parts: first, the right hand is placed in the elbow crook of the left arm. The left arm is then raised (fist clenched) at the victim in a smooth and continuous motion. While the motion is essential to the gesture, the choice of arm is not. This gesture is associated with Italians and is considered a more theatrical and physically exuberant version of the finger, and may even be combined with the finger. In Italian it is known as the gesto dell'ombrello, meaning literally "the umbrella gesture." It is typically used in two different situations: 1) to answer "no way!" in an extremely emphatic (and quite vulgar) way; 2) after a triumph against some unfair enemy, with a sense of revenge. The gesture is frequently made stronger by crying "toh!" or "tiè!", both meaning "take this!", at the precise moment the hand touches the crook of the elbow. Image File history File links Merge-arrow. ... Shortcut: WP:TP A talk page is a special Wikipedia page containing discussion about the contents of its associated subject page. ... The finger In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. ...

This gesture is also in use in France as bras d'honneur (arm of honour), where it is usually understood as va te faire foutre, still meaning "fuck off." In Spain and Portugal, it is a corte de mangas ("sleeve cut") or a manguito (a cover formerly worn by public services bureaucratic workers on the arms to protect one's sleeves from ink splatters) respectively and is done with the left hand on the right elbow, without the continuous motion. In Portugal, the iconic fictional character Zé Povinho, created by Bordalo Pinheiro, is usually depicted performing this gesture. This gesture, known as banana, was also once used in Brazil with the meaning of "fuck you", but it has not been used since the middle of the 90's. Sleeve (O. Eng. ... Zé Povinho is a Portuguese character created in 1875 by Portuguese artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, and became the unofficial symbol of the Portuguese people. ...

The gesture is sometimes used repetitively by fans at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia when the Phillies face the Atlanta Braves as a parody of the Braves' tomahawk chop, and this usage is known as the "South Philly tomahawk chop" due to the gritty reputation of Philadelphia sports fans. Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball-only stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that opened on April 3, 2004 and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of that same year, as the tenants of the facility, the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 4... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) East Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 21, 35, 41, 42, 44 Name Atlanta Braves (1966–present) Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965) Boston Braves (1941-1952) Boston Bees (1936-1940) Boston Braves (1912-1935) Boston Rustlers (1911) Boston Doves (1907-1910) Boston... In contemporary usage, a parody (or lampoon) is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... The war chant is a traditional melody and gesture associated with the Florida State University, specifically its athletic teams the Seminoles, since approximately 1984. ... South Philadelphia district, highlighted on map of Philadelphia County. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ...

The gesture above has long been known in Slavic countries and Greece in the above senses plus "fuck you", without any standard name. In Poland its name has been standardized to "Kozakiewicz's gesture", after Polish pole vault jumper Władysław Kozakiewicz, who had shown this gesture to the jeering Russian public during the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Pole vaulting is an athletic event where a person uses a long, flexible pole (usually made either of fiberglass or carbon fiber) as an aid to leap over a bar. ... WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Kozakiewicz WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Kozakiewicz (b. ... Badge, released in the USSR The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, were held in Moscow in the Soviet Union. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ...

Biting one's thumb

Biting one's thumb was an old rude British gesture. It is comparable to "the Finger" in modern terms. In William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, Sampson bites his thumb at the Montagues (Act 1, Scene 1). Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... For other uses, see Romeo and Juliet (disambiguation). ...

The gesture does not literally involve biting the thumb. The fingernail of a thumb is placed behind the upper teeth, with the thumb thus pointing upwards, and the thumb is then bent forwards, the fingernail making a clicking sound as it flicks past the teeth.

An equivalent gesture still persists in Italy.

Biting one's hand

In Sicily, biting one's flat hand or fist is a powerful threat.

Bowing, kneeling, kowtowing

A bow is a gesture of respect involving lowering the head, usually performed by a social inferior to a social superior. Various cultures have different degrees or ways of performing the bow; China and Japan are particularly associated with elaborate and formal bowing. Bowing is also done by many groups as a ritual associated with prayer. In the Western world, women curtsey rather than bow. Kneeling and "kowtowing" are more extreme or elaborate forms of self-abasement before a social superior. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Prayer (disambiguation). ... A curtsey (also spelled curtsy) is a traditional gesture of greeting, predominantly done by women, in which the woman bends her knees while bowing forwards. ... Kneeling is a human position in which the weight is distributed on the knees and feet, typically on the ground. ... Kowtowing Kowtow, from the Chinese term kòu tóu (Cantonese: kau tàuh) (叩頭), is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to touch the head to the ground. ...

Choking sign

The "Choking" sign

The standard gesture to indicate that one is choking is to hold the throat with both hands as if strangling oneself. This is recognized as a request for immediate first aid for choking. It is promoted as a way to prevent onlookers from confusing the victim's distress with some other problem, such as a heart attack, when the person cannot speak. The gesture is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to someone or something "choking" in the slang sense of failing at something while under pressure, for instance at an athletic event. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1618 KB) Summary The Im choking gesture Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1618 KB) Summary The Im choking gesture Licensing Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... For choking meaning compression of the neck, see Strangling. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... Heart attack redirects here. ...

Crossing oneself

Main article: Sign of the cross

The "sign of the Cross" is the use of the right hand to touch the forehead, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder, consecutively. It represents the Christian cross. (Roman Catholics crossing themselves touch the forehead, chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder; Byzantine (Eastern) Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians touch the right shoulder before the left, with the thumb and first two fingers joined — symbolizing the Trinity — and the tips of the last two fingers touching the palm, symbolizing the dual nature of Christ in one being. ) For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ... A reliquary in the form of an ornate Christian Cross Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope...

This gesture is used by Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and some other Christian groups in prayers, to perform blessings, and as a salute before entering a church or similar place of religious significance. It is also used in various kinds of Christian folk religion to avert evil or bad luck. In the UK, this gesture is colloquially known as "spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch". The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... For other uses, see Prayer (disambiguation). ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... Folk religion consists of beliefs, superstitions and rituals transmitted from generation to generation of a specific culture. ... For other uses, see Evil (disambiguation). ... This article is about good and bad fortune. ...

Cutthroat

The "Cutthroat" sign

This gesture is performed by drawing the hand, or a finger or two, across the throat. It represents slitting the throat with a knife, and means that the gesturer or someone else is metaphorically being killed. It is rarely if ever used literally to refer to death, though it is occasionally used as a theatrical threat ("I'm going to kill you"). In these contexts, it is sometimes accompanied by a harsh "kkkkkch" sound. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1607 KB) Summary The cutthroat gesture, self-portrait. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x1728, 1607 KB) Summary The cutthroat gesture, self-portrait. ...

This gesture can also mean to "cut," "stop," or to discontinue a particular action. It can also be used to indicate something has ended or a previous process has concluded. Scuba divers use this gesture with the palm swept across the throat to indicate that they have run out of air. Airport ground personnel also use this gesture to indicate a variety of things (due to the loud environment), such as baggage offload has completed or the last of the passengers have disembarked. In this context, it can be understood to mean: "That's it." Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. ...

Also used by movie personnel when having to signal a cessation of activity under silent conditions.

Additionally, WWE Superstar The Undertaker uses this gesture to signify his signature moves, the Chokeslam, Last Ride, and Tombstone piledriver, as did Chris Benoit until his death. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... For the Combichrist song, see Everybody Hates You Mark Calaway (born March 24, 1965[2][3]) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name The Undertaker. ... Big Show prepairing to give JBL a Chokeslam A chokeslam (Japanese: nodowa otoshi) refers to a type of body slam in professional wrestling in which the wrestler grasps their opponents neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. ... A Powerbomb is a professional wrestling move in which an opponent is lifted up (usually so that they are sitting on the wrestlers shoulders) and then slammed back-first down to the mat. ... A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ... Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: ) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. ...

Drinking sign

In UK, the gesture for drinking (used for example as an invitation to "go down the pub") is made by putting the back of the thumb just below the lower lip, while the other fingers are close together as if holding an imaginary pint of beer, tipping it repeatedly. This gesture can also be used to imply that somebody is drunk, either literally or insultingly. In other countries, the shaka sign is used in a similar way, as described above. An amusingly named pub (the Old New Inn) at Bourton-on-the-Water, in the Cotswold Hills of South West England A pub in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh, Scotland A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada... The pint is an English unit of volume or capacity in the imperial system and United States customary units, equivalent in each system to one half of a quart, and one eighth of a gallon. ...

Flipping the fingers out from under the chin

A traditional Sicilian gesture analogous in meaning to the raised middle finger. This gesture became the center of a controversy in March of 2006, when Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was photographed allegedly making the gesture to illustrate his response to his critics. Scalia later claimed that he used a different gesture, waving his fingers beneath his chin, a gesture translating to "I couldn't care less." The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States... Associate Justice or Puisne (pronounced puny) Justice is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice. ... Antonin Gregory Scalia (born March 11, 1936[1]) is an American jurist and the second most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. ...

Facepalm

This gesture indicates stupidity, usually a minor and immediately recognized slip of logic, judgment, or speech; and is performed by striking the forehead with the heel of the hand.

Hand over heart

This gesture involves placing one's right hand, palm outstretched and facing in, over one's heart. Male hat or cap wearers typically remove their hats and hold them in this hand. In some cultures, it is used as a gesture of respect towards flags or during singing of a national anthem. In the United States, it is also performed as a part of the rituals of the Pledge of Allegiance. It can also be used to indicate sincerity, shock, or hurt; in which case, a balled hand has the same meaning. A hat is an item of clothing which is worn on the head; a kind of headgear. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... The Pledge of Allegiance is a promise or oath of allegiance to the United States and the its national flag. ...

Loser

Man performing the 'Loser' sign

This sign is made using the right hand by making a fist and an 'L' shape with the index finger and thumb. The back of the hand is then tapped against the forehead indicating that the recipient is a loser. This gesture is often followed with a double loser. However, when the opposite hand is used, the gesture becomes highly ironic. The song All Star by Smash Mouth refers to this gesture: "She was looking kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead." A combination of both signs is used to to call someone a "square", and as such is the origin of the band L7's name. For the record label, see All Star Records All Star is a single by Smash Mouth. ... It has been suggested that Steven Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle, and Jason Sutter be merged into this article or section. ... L7 (sometimes spelled L-7) has several meanings: L7 is 1950s slang for square, based on the shape made when putting together an L made with the left thumb and index finger and a 7 made with the right thumb and index finger. ...

My eye

In France, Germany, and other parts of Europe^{[citation needed]} it is common to point your index finger at your eye and even pull the skin under the eye lightly down to emphasize the presenting of the eye. The gesture displays disbelief or that a certain statement is made jokingly, similar to winking in American culture.

In Japan, tugging at the eye, often accompanied by sticking out one's tongue, is used as a childishly offensive gesture, or to indicate boredom.

In Italy, Portugal, Brazil and all Spanish-speaking nations it means "watch out" (POR:"olha!", ITA:occhio!,SPA:¡ojo!), and is used for warning or threatening. In Brazil, it is also used to signal skepticism.

In Denmark it can be a joking threat, often accompanied by the phrase: "Because the eyes are what you takes care for the most".

Nonsense

Performed by waving the palm of your hand in front of your face, it may be used to tell the other person that an idea he or she had was nonsense.

In Portugal, this gesture usually means the person being referred to missed an extremely obvious detail. It is frequently accompanied — or used instead of — the exclamation duh.

Nose thumbing

For this gesture, also known as "cocking a snoot", "giving the five-finger salute", "cocking a snook", or Queen Anne's Fan, the thumb is placed on the tip of the nose, with the remaining fingers of the hand extended and waggled freely. This gesture can be ended with a dramatic flicking of the thumb away from the end of the nose and towards the recipient. It is used in (gentle) mockery of someone. It dates back to at least the 18th century and is probably much older.

To add emphasis, the gesture can be made using both hands, connecting them by touching the little finger of the first hand with the thumb of the second, and waggling the remaining seven fingers. It is frequently accompanied by blowing a raspberry, or by sticking out the tongue. Blowing a raspberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise made to signify derision (and/or silliness), made by sticking out the tongue between the lips and blowing to make a sound reminiscent of flatulence. ...

Over the head

A hand is extended and passed over the head with the palm facing the head. This is often accompanied with a whooshing sound, whistling or an exclamation of "Over your head!". This indicates that the receiver has failed to comprehend or notice something obvious.

Screwing the forehead

A finger is placed against the temple, as if pointing at it, and a screwing motion, as if making a dimple, is made by twisting the wrist. In Italian culture, this indicates that the person referred to is "crazy" or "nuts."

Suck It

This gesture is performed by crossing the outstretched arms across the thighs, putting emphasis on the groin. This was used by popular professional wrestling stable D-Generation X. The groin is the crease at the junction of the torso with the legs and the adjacent region that includes the external genitals. ... Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable number of slang, in-references and jargon. ... This article is about the stable in WWE. For the Pay-Per-View event, see In Your House 19: D-Generation X D-Generation X (commonly known as DX) is an on and off professional wrestling tag team (formerly a stable) wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment. ...

There is a variation to this where a fist is made and shook near the mouth while bulging ones tongue against their cheeks to mimic fellatio.

Eat Me (Out) / EMO (Lagnar)

The forefinger and middle finger are placed on opposite sides of the mouth, palm toward the self, in a "V" and the tongue flicked in between, simulating cunnilingus. It is mostly used as a dismissive retort, but can also convey a taunt. Popular in the 1970s. More recently it is used as a derogatory way of signifying a lesbian.

Touched / screw loose

Tapping one's index finger against the head indicates that a person or an idea being discussed is insane or "touched in the head". A similar, more elaborate gesture uses a circling motion of the finger at the temple or side of the head. This signifies that the person is "mixed up" or "has a screw loose". In Germany, tapping or pointing to the temple is used as an insult, often with the accompanying phrase "du hast einen Vogel." While this literally means "You have a bird," it is idiomatic for saying that you are insane. Also, in Indonesia, drawing a line across the forehead with the side of the right index finger denotes a similar meaning.

A variant of this one is the suicide. Make a gun with your hand and pretend to shoot point blank at your own temple. It can be accompanied with sticking out the tongue or a shooting sound for full effect, and often implies that the speaker is a "complete idiot". A more recent use of this is in the movie, "40-Year Old Virgin" where one of the characters, after being bored with a conversation, proceeds to aim at his temple and pretend to fire. Afterwards, he uses his other hand and does a reverse cupping motion outward from the other side of his head to signify his brains splattering out.

In Japan, a variation of this is knocking on the temple with the knuckle of the index finger. This is usually used in reference to the signer; "I'm such an idiot!"

Twisting the cheek

Thumb and forefinger are placed against the cheek, and a screwing motion, as if making a dimple, is made by twisting the wrist. In Italian culture, this can mean "I see a pretty girl" or, just generally mean "Wow!"

"Wiping" one's forehead

The act of drawing the hand, generally palm outward, across the forehead (regardless of whether sweat has actually formed there) is a sign indicating many things such as "That was close" or "What a relief". It can also be used to express relief after some hard work, or to express feeling hot. Not to be confused with rubbing the forehead, an indication of a real or metaphorical headache.

Polishing one's fingernails

One breathes on one's fingernails, then polishes them on one's clothing. This means "I have done something really clever", but (at least in the UK) is not particularly smug. Also known as buffing one's nails or "nailbuffing." This article discusses the anatomical nail. ...

Body and facial gestures

Further information: Facial expression

Many gestures utilize only the face or body, without the hands. Photographs from the 1862 book Mécanisme de la Physionomie Humaine by Guillaume Duchenne. ...

Eye-rolling

Performed by rotating the eyes upward, it indicates condescension, contempt, boredom, or exasperation. This is often referred to as "rolling ones eyes to Heaven," as though wishing for a divine intervention for a rescue from boredom, frustration, etc.

Mooning

Mooning is the act of displaying one's bare buttocks by lowering the back side of one's trousers and underpants, usually without exposing the genitals. Mooning is to taunt, protest, scorn, disrespect, or provoke. It can also be done for shock value or fun. Mooning is the act of displaying ones bare buttocks by removing clothing, e. ... Nude redirects here. ... Bottom commonly refers to the human buttocks but also has other uses. ... Germanic trousers of the 4th century found in the Thorsberg moor, Germany Early use of trousers in France: a sans-culotte by Louis-Léopold Boilly. ... A pair of mens briefs Undergarments, also called underwear or sometimes intimate clothing, are clothes worn next to the skin, usually under other clothes. ... A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The "peacock"

Expresses superiority or domination combined with a certain degree of smug arrogance. Performed by pushing the chest up and out at the front as well as tilting the face slightly upward. This may be accompanied by motions of hooking both thumbs under one's lapels or suspenders even if they are not present. A man wearing classic suspenders, which hook directly into the trousers instead of using clips. ...

For gestures in computing, see mouse gesture. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The air kiss is a ritual or social gesture whose meaning is basically the same as that of many forms of kissing. ... A hand gesture similar to that of a hand shake which is exhibited between friends and even acquaintances. ... Cheek kissing is a ritual or social gesture to indicate friendship, perform a greeting, to confer congratulations, to comfort someone, or to show respect. ... Dap is a form of handshake that originated in the 1960s among African Americans. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... A human hand with an upright thumb, literally a Thumb Up. A young man showing the thumbs up gesture. ... A fist pound, pound it, respect knuckles, bones, or props is a type of social interaction commonly used by teenagers. ... A high five is a celebratory gesture made by two people, each raising one hand to slap the raised hand of the other - usually meant to communicate to spectators mutual self-satisfaction or to extend congratulations from one person to another. ... The Thai greeting referred to as the wai (Thai: ไหว้) Or in Lao as Kub consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 421 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (758 × 1078 pixel, file size: 411 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A curtsey (also spelled curtsy) is a traditional gesture of greeting, predominantly done by women, in which the woman bends her knees while bowing forwards. ... Hand-kissing is a ritual of greeting and respect. ... Look up Genuflection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Woman performing namaste gesture. ... This article is about the gesture. ... This article is about the gesture. ... Students reciting the pledge using the Bellamy salute. ... The Final Salute is an informal form of saluting performed by Aircraft pilots particularly in the Air Force. ... Adolf Hitler and others at a Nazi party rally in Nuremberg, Germany, performing the salute. ... The Oath of the Horatii (1784), by Jacques-Louis David The Roman salute is a gesture in which the arm is held out forward straight, with palm down. ... The Royal Salute is one of the two salutes given by the Guard of Honor, second being the general salute. ... Scouts using the three-finger salute as the Scout Sign. ... This article is about a salute used by some Serbs. ... Note: This article is about the custom of saluting with two fingers. ... Applause (Latin applaudere, to strike upon, clap) is primarily the expression of approval by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise; generally any expression of approval. ... A fist pumper The fist pump is a celebratory gesture in which a closed fist is raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down and nearer to the body in a vigorous, swift motion. ... The Gator Chomp is a nationally recognized gesture made by fans of the University of Florida to show their support of the Florida Gators. ... Gig em Aggies is a tradition of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, United States. ... A high five is a celebratory gesture made by two people, each raising one hand to slap the raised hand of the other - usually meant to communicate to spectators mutual self-satisfaction or to extend congratulations from one person to another. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mano cornuto. ... The war chant is a traditional melody and gesture associated with the Florida State University, specifically its athletic teams the Seminoles, since approximately 1984. ... The V sign is a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched. ... The Corna or Devil Horns The corna (Italian for horns, also mano cornuta, horned hand and fare le corna, to make the horns) is a gesture with a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries and a variety of meanings and uses in other cultures. ... The finger In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers into the palm. ... Mooning is the act of displaying ones bare buttocks by removing clothing, e. ... Example of the Shocker. ... A moutza (μούντζα) is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks which consists of extending all fingers and presenting the palm towards the to-be-insulted person. ... Finger counting, or dactylonomy, is the art of counting along ones fingers. ... Chinese number gestures refers to the Chinese method of using one hand to signify the natural numbers one through ten. ... Chisanbop or chisenbop (from Korean chi finger + sanpŏp calculation [1] ) is an abacus-like finger counting method used to perform basic mathematical operations. ... Finger binary is a system for counting and displaying binary numbers on the fingers of one or more hands. ... AIR QUOTES ARE ANNOYING! SAYS WHO? SAYS ME! FUCK AIR QUOTES! I HATE THEM! THEYRE JUST SICK VARIANTS OF THE PEACE SIGN! ... Anasyrma is a ritual exposing of ones genitals. ... Articulatory gestures are the actions necessary to enunciate language. ... To cross ones fingers is a hand gesture used to wish for good luck or to nullify a promise. ... // Street gangs can identify through various verbalizations, for example, the Bloods in some cities use brrrat or blat or some other form of the sound to indicate the sound of a gun. ... Hand gestures, are gestures performed by one or two hands. ... The head bobble or head wobble refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures, most notably in India and Pakistan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Pupils in a traditional classroom situation signal to their teacher that they want to be heard Manual communication systems use articulation of the hands (hand signs), gestures, body language and facial expressions in place of the voice to mediate a message between persons. ... A mudrā (Sanskrit, मुद्रा, literally seal) is a symbolic gesture usually made with the hand or fingers. ... A nod of the head is a gesture used in many cultures that is most commonly, but not universally, used to indicate agreement, acceptance, or acknowledgement. ... Poking is an action of tapping and/or softly jabbing another person with the tip of your finger or a pointy object. ... This page lists direct English translations of common Latin phrases, such as veni vidi vici and et cetera. ... A Puppy face or a Puppy dog face is a facial expression that humans make that is based on canine expressions. ... The raised fist (also closed fist or clenched fist) is a symbol and salute most often used by communists, anarchists, socialists, leftists, pacifists, trade unionists and others in opposition to oppressive regimes. ... Rock, Paper, Scissors chart Listen to this article ( info/dl) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-07-13, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... A shrug is a form of nonverbal communication that is performed by lifting both shoulders up, and is an indication of an individual either not knowing an answer to a question, or not caring about a result. ... For other uses, see Sign of the cross (disambiguation). ... Varadamudra is a mudra, and it indicates a gesture by the hand and symbolizes dispensing of favors. ... The V sign is a hand gesture in which the first and second fingers are raised and parted, whilst the remaining fingers are clenched. ... Blessing gesture that was the inspiration for the Vulcan salute. ... Fans do the Tomahawk Chop at a Braves Game The war chant is a traditional melody and gesture associated with the Florida State University, specifically its Florida State Seminoles athletic teams. ... This is a list of gestures. ...

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