Gestures are a form of nonverbal communication in which visible bodily actions are used to communicate important messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of the body. Physical non-verbal communication such as purely expressive displays, proxemics, or displays of joint attention differ from gestures, which communicate specific messages. Gestures are culture-specific and may convey very different meanings in different social or cultural settings. Hand gestures used in the context of musical conducting are chironomy,. while when used in the context of public speaking are chironomia. Although some gestures, such as the ubiquitous act of pointing, differ little from one place to another, most gestures do not have invariable or universal meanings, but connote specific meanings in particular cultures. A single emblematic gesture may have very different significance in different cultural contexts, ranging from complimentary to highly offensive.
This list includes links to pages that discuss particular gestures, as well as short descriptions of some gestures that do not have their own page. Not included are the specialized gestures, calls, and signals used by referees and umpires in various organized sports. Police officers also make gestures when directing traffic. Miming is an art form in which the performer uses gestures to convey a story; charades is a game of gestures. Mimed gestures might generally be used to refer to an action in context, for example turning a pretend crank to ask someone to lower a car side window (or for modern power windows, pointing down or miming pressing a button).
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Single handed
A-OK or Okay, made by connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers straight, usually signal the word okay. It is considered obscene in Brazil and Turkey, being similar to the Western extended middle finger with the back of the hand towards the recipient. It is also an insult in parts of Europe, meaning anal sex, to imply the rudeness or arrogance of the recipient, often used when driving with the thumb and index finger separated to infer "small penis". In more recent history, it is sometimes associated with the racist theory of white power, which started as a prank meme on 4chan. In Japanese culture a way of requesting money or payment uses a similar hand sign, with the palm facing upwards and the three extended fingers level. Abhayamudra is a Hindu mudra or gesture of reassurance and safety. Apology hand gesture is a Hindu custom to apologize in the form of a hand gesture with the right hand when a person's foot accidentally touches a book or any written material (which are considered as a manifestation of the goddess of knowledge Saraswati), money (which is considered as a manifestation of the goddess of wealth Lakshmi) or another person's leg. The offending person first touches the object with the fingertips and then the forehead and/or chest. Beckoning sign. In North America or Northern Europe, a beckoning sign is made with the index finger sticking out of the clenched fist, palm facing the gesturer. The finger moves repeatedly towards the gesturer (in a hook) as to draw something nearer. It has the general meaning of "come here". It can also be done with the palm upwards so the finger points directly at the target. In Northern Africa (i.e. the Maghreb), calling someone is done using the full hand. In several Asian and European countries, a beckoning sign is made with a scratching motion with all four fingers and with the palm down. In Japan and other countries in the far-east cultural area, the palm faces the recipient with the hand at head's height. If reversed, it's considered rude.
Bellamy salute was used in conjunction with the American Pledge of Allegiance prior to World War II. Bent index finger. This is a gesture that means 'dead' in Chinese culture. Hand of benediction and blessing. The benediction gesture (or benedictio Latina gesture) is a raised right hand with the ring finger and little finger touching the palm whist 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), often simplified as the benediction gesture, is used by the Christian clergy to perform blessings with the sign of the cross; moreover the raised thumb, middle, and index fingers allegorically represent the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. Too, the hand's shape is said to partially spell the name of Jesus Christ in Greek. A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities: Being a Continuation of the Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 1 William George Smith and Samuel Cheetham, London, John Murray, 1878. Not allowed. The point finger pointed upwards, whilst wagging the point from left to right, the hand around the chin level below the mouth. Blah-blah. The fingers are kept straight and together, held horizontal or upwards and bending at the lowest knuckles, while the thumb points downwards. The fingers and thumb then snap together repeatedly to mimic a mouth talking. The gesture can be used to indicate that someone talks too much, gossips, is saying nothing of any consequence, or is boring. Check, please. This gesture, used to mean that a dinner patron wishes to pay the bill and depart, is executed by touching the index finger and thumb together and "writing" a checkmark, circle, or wavy line (as if signing one's name) in the air. To signal for the bill in Japan, although not widely used by younger people, both hands are raised, with the two index fingers forming an "X". This is to signal the "end" of a meal which is called "Shime ()" in Japanese. The crossed fingers represent this kanji.
Chinese number gestures are a method of using one hand to signify the natural numbers one through ten. Clenched fist is used as a gesture of defiance or solidarity. Facing the signer, it threatens physical violence (i.e., "a thumping").
Clinton thumb. The gesture dubbed the "Clinton thumb" after one of its most famous users, Bill Clinton, is used by politicians to provide emphasis in speeches. This gesture has the thumb leaning against the thumb-side portion of the index finger, which is part of a closed fist, or slightly projecting from the fist. An emphatic, it does not exhibit the anger of the clenched fist or pointing finger, and so is thought to be less threatening. This gesture was likely adopted by Clinton from John F. Kennedy, who can be seen using it in many speeches and images from his political career. Crossed fingers are used superstitiously to wish for good luck or to nullify a promise. Cuckoo sign, touched or screw loose. In North America, making a circling motion of the index finger at the ear or temple signifies that the person "has a screw loose", i.e. is speaking nonsense or is crazy. Cuckold's horns are traditionally placed behind an unwitting man (the cuckold) to insult him and represent that his wife is unfaithful. It is made with the index and middle fingers spread by a person standing behind the one being insulted. In modern culture as bunny ears "the actual symbolism has been forgotten and only the offence remains".The Cuckold's Horns, Beach Combing, May 16, 2014. Dismissive hand wave: this is a gesture in which a person waves their hand or flicks their wrist outward, usually palm facing away from the body, as if brushing something aside. It is commonly used to signal dismissal, rejection, or telling someone to “go away.” In this sense, it conveys impatience or disdain, and is often understood as a nonverbal equivalent of saying “forget it” or “leave.” In English, this gesture is associated with phrases such as “wave someone away” or “wave off,” both of which carry dismissive connotations. Cultural variations exist: in some societies, the gesture may be interpreted as playful or casual, while in others it can be considered rude. In the context of African-American church and gospel music culture, the same motion can carry a positive meaning. Congregants may wave their hand as if to say “stop” or “go away,” not as a rejection of the performer but as an affirmation that the music is overwhelmingly powerful or spiritually moving. This usage is a form of nonverbal praise and part of the broader call-and-response tradition in Black worship, similar to shouting “Amen!” or standing in response to a sermon or song. Eyelid pull, where one forefinger is used to pull the lower eyelid further down, and signifies alertness.
Fig sign is a gesture made with the hand and fingers curled and the thumb thrust between the middle and index fingers, or, rarely, the middle and ring fingers, forming the fist so that the thumb partly pokes out. In some areas of the world, the gesture is considered a good luck charm; in others (including Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Russia, Serbia and Turkey among others), it is considered an obscene gesture. The precise origin of the gesture is unknown, but many historians speculate that it refers to a penis penetrating the vagina (to which The Finger also refers). In ancient Greece, this gesture was a fertility and good luck charm designed to ward off evil. This usage has survived in Portugal and Brazil, where carved images of hands in this gesture are used in good luck talismans. The finger, an extended middle finger with the back of the hand towards the recipient, is an obscene hand gesture used in much of Western culture. Finger counting is a system to indicate numbers using fingers on one or two hands. Different areas differ in the initial finger used for the number one (thumb or index or pinky) as well as the zero symbol and highest possible number (10, 20, 27, 9999).
Finger gun is a hand gesture in which the subject uses their hand to mimic a handgun. If pointed to oneself (with or without the "hammer falling" of the thumb indicating firing, or a small tilt up to represent recoil), it may indicate boredom or awkwardness in the sense of wanting to commit (social) suicide; when pointed to another, it is interpreted as a threat of violence, either genuine or in jest. Between friends, a finger gun can be a sign of acknowledgement similar to a head nod and hello. Simultaneous finger guns with both hands can also be used to underscore the punchline of a joke, something of a visual equivalent to a "rimshot" sound effect. Finger heart is a hand gesture in which the subject has a palm up fist, raises their index finger and brings their thumb over it so as to form a small heart shape. It signals a similar gesture to that of the two-handed heart. It originates from South Korean culture and was used by athletes during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games. This gesture is a bit similar to money gesture, but without middle finger and not rubbing repeatedly to the thumb. Fist bump is similar to a handshake or high five which may be used as a symbol of respect. Fist pump is a celebratory gesture in which a closed fist is raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down in a vigorous, swift motion. Grey Wolf salute is a fist with the little finger and index finger raised, depicting head of a wolf. Originally used by the Gagauz as a gesture of salutation and victory, the gesture was later adopted by the Grey Wolves and is associated with Turkish nationalism. Handshake is a greeting ritual in which two people grasp each other's hands and may move their grasped hands up and down. High five is a celebratory ritual in which two people simultaneously raise one hand and then slap these hands together. Hitchhiking gestures including sticking one thumb upward, especially in North America, or pointing an index finger toward the road, to request a ride in an automobile.