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ListofgesturesWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Listofgestures
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Gesturesareaformofnonverbalcommunicationinwhichvisiblebodilyactionsareusedtocommunicate
importantmessages,eitherinplaceofspeechortogetherandinparallelwithspokenwords.[1]Gestures
includemovementofthehands,face,orotherpartsofthebody.Physicalnonverbalcommunicationsuchas
purelyexpressivedisplays,proxemics,ordisplaysofjointattentiondifferfromgestures,which
communicatespecificmessages.[1]Gesturesareculturespecificandcanconveyverydifferentmeaningsin
differentsocialorculturalsettings.[2]Gestureisdistinctfromsignlanguage.Althoughsomegestures,such
astheubiquitousactofpointing,differlittlefromoneplacetoanother,mostgesturesdonothaveinvariable
oruniversalmeaningsbutconnotespecificmeaningsinparticularcultures.Asingleemblematicgesturecan
haveverydifferentsignificanceindifferentculturalcontexts,rangingfromcomplimentarytohighly
offensive.[3]
ThislistincludeslinkstoWikipediapagesthatdiscussparticulargestures,aswellasshortdescriptionsof
somegesturesthatdonothavetheirownpage.Notincludedarethespecializedgestures,calls,andsignals
usedbyrefereesandumpiresinorganizedsports.Policeofficersalsomakegestureswhendirectingtraffic.
Mimeisanartforminwhichtheperformerutilizesgesturestoconveyastory.Charadesisagameof
gestures.

Peopleoftenusegesturesduringheatedor
tensearguments,suchasatthispolitical
demonstration.

Contents
1Singlehandgestures
2Twohandgestures
3Gesturesmadewithotherbodyparts
4Seealso
5References
6Externallinks

Singlehandgestures
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AokorOkay,madebyconnectingthethumbandforefingerinacircleandholdingtheotherfingersstraight,maysignalthe
wordokay.ItisconsideredobsceneinBrazilandinIran,beingsimilartotheWesternextendedmiddlefingerwiththebackof
thehandtowardstherecipient
AbhayamudraisaHinduMudraorgestureofreassuranceandsafety.
ApologyhandgestureisaHinducustomtoapologizeintheformofahandgesturewiththerighthandwhenaperson'sfoot
accidentallytouchesabookoranywrittenmaterial(whichareconsideredasamanifestationofthegoddessofknowledge
Saraswati),money(whichisconsideredasamanifestationofthegoddessofwealthLakshmi)oranotherperson'sleg.The
Okaysign
offendingpersonfirsttouchestheobjectwiththefingertipsandthentheforeheadand/orchest.[4]
Beckoningsign.InNorthAmericaorNorthernEuropeabeckoningsignismadewiththeindexfingerstickingoutofthe
clenchedfist,palmfacingthegesturer.Thefingermovesrepeatedlytowardsthegesturer(inahook)astodrawsomethingnearer.Ithasthe
generalmeaningof"comehere."[5]InNorthernAfrica(Maghreb),callingsomeoneisdoneusingthefullhand.[6]InseveralAsianandEuropean
countries,abeckoningsignismadewithascratchingmotionwithallfourfingersandwiththepalmdown.[7]InJapan,thepalmfacestherecipient
withthehandathead'sheight.[8]
BellamysalutewasusedinconjunctionwiththeAmericanPledgeofAllegiancepriortoWorldWar
II.
Handofbenedictionandblessing.Thebenedictiongesture(orbenedictiolatinagesture)isaraised
righthandwiththeringfingerandlittlefingertouchingthepalm,whilethemiddleandindexfingers
remainraised.TakenfromAncientRomaniconographyforspeaking(anexampleistheAugustusof
PrimaPortawheretheemperorAugustusassumestheposeofanoratorinaddressinghistroops),
oftencalledthebenedictiongesture,isusedbytheChristianclergytoperformblessingswiththesign
ofthecrosshoweverChristianskeepthethumbraisedthethreeraisedfingers(index,middle,and
thumb)arefrequentlyallegoricallyinterpretedasrepresentingthethreePersonsoftheHolyTrinity.[9]
Thehand'sshapeissaidtopartiallyspellthenameofJesusChristinGreek.[10]
Before"bunnyears,"peopleweregiven
Blahblah.Thefingersarekeptstraightandtogether,heldhorizontalorupwards,whilethethumb
pointsdownwards.Thefingersandthumbthensnaptogetherrepeatedlytosuggestamouthtalking.
cuckold'shornsasaninsultbysneakingup
Thegesturecanbeusedtoindicatethatsomeonetalkstoomuch,gossips,issayingnothingofany
behindthemwithtwofingers(c.1815
[11]
Frenchsatire).
consequence,orisboring.
Check,please.Thisgesture,usedtomeanthatadinnerpatronwishestopaythebillanddepart,is
executedbytouchingtheindexfingerandthumbtogetherand"writing"acheckmark,circle,orwavy
line(asifsigningone'sname)intheair.[11]TosignalforthebillinJapan,althoughnotwidelyusedbyyoungerpeople,bothhandsareraised,
withthetwoindexfingersformingan'X'.Thisistosignalthe'end'ofamealwhichiscalled"Shime((())"inJapanese.Thecrossedfingers
representthissignresemblingan"X".[12]
Chinesenumbergesturesareamethodofusingonehandtosignifythenaturalnumbersonethroughten.
Clenchedfistisusedasagestureofdefianceorsolidarity.Facingthesigner,itthreatensphysicalviolence(i.e.,"athumping").
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Clintonthumb.Thegesturedubbedthe"Clintonthumb"afteroneofitsmostfamoususers,BillClinton,isusedbypoliticianstoprovideemphasis
inspeeches.Thisgesturehasthethumbleaningagainstthethumbsideportionoftheindexfinger,whichispartofaclosed
fist,orslightlyprojectingfromthefist.Anemphatic,itdoesnotexhibittheangeroftheclenchedfistorpointingfinger,and
soisthoughttobelessthreatening.[13]ThisgesturewaslikelyadoptedbyClintonfromJohnF.Kennedy,whocanbeseen
usingitinmanyspeechesandimagesfromhispoliticalcareer.[13]
Crossedfingersareusedtosuperstitiouslywishforgoodluckortonullifyapromise.
Cuckoosign,touchedorscrewloose.InNorthAmerica,makingacirclingmotionoftheindexfingerattheearorsideofthe
Aclenchedfist
[7][11]
headsignifiesthattheperson"hasascrewloose,"i.e.isspeakingnonsenseoriscrazy.
Cuckold'shornsaretraditionallyplacedbehindanunwittingman(thecuckold)toinsulthimandrepresent
thathiswifeisunfaithful.Itismadewiththeindexandmiddlefingersspreadbyapersonstandingbehindthe
onebeinginsulted.The"symbolismhasbeenforgottenbuttheinsultremains"inmoderncultureasbunny
ears.[14]
Dapgreetingisaformofhandshakerecentlypopularizedinwesterncultures,relatedtothefistbump.
Figsignisagesturemadewiththehandandfingerscurledandthethumbthrustbetweenthemiddleand
indexfingers,or,rarely,themiddleandringfingers,formingthefistsothatthethumbpartlypokesout.In
someareasoftheworld,thegestureisconsideredagoodluckcharminothers(includingGreece,Indonesia,
Japan,Korea,Russia,SerbiaandTurkeyamongothers),itisconsideredanobscenegesture.Theprecise
Kennedy'sgestureseenherewith
originofthegestureisunknown,butmanyhistoriansspeculatethatitreferstoapenispenetratingthefemale
NikitaKhrushchev.
genitalia(towhichTheFingeralsorefers).InancientGreece,thisgesturewasafertilityandgoodluckcharm
designedtowardoffevil.ThisusagehassurvivedinPortugalandBrazil,wherecarvedimagesofhandsin
thisgestureareusedingoodlucktalismans.[11]
TheFinger,anextendedmiddlefingerwiththebackofthehandtowardstherecipient,isanobscenehandgestureusedin
muchofWesternculture.Themiddlefingerpresumablyreferstoanerectpenispenetratingthefemalegenetaliarepresented
bythecurledringandindexfingers.
Fingergunisahandgestureinwhichthesubjectusestheirhandtomimicahandgun.Ifpointedtooneself,itmayindicate
boredomorawkwardnesswhenpointedtoanother,itisinterpretedasathreatofviolence,eithergenuineorinjest.
Fistbumpissimilartoahandshakeorhighfivewhichmaybeusedasasymbolofrespect.
Fistpumpisacelebratorygestureinwhichaclosedfistisraisedbeforethetorsoandsubsequentlydrawndowninavigorous,
swiftmotion.
The"figsign"is
GreyWolfsaluteisafistwiththelittlefingerandindexfingerraised,depictingheadofawolf.[15]Originallyusedbythe
anancient
Gagauzasagestureofsalutationandvictory,[16]thegesturewaslateradoptedbytheGreyWolvesandisassociatedwith
gesturewith
Turkishnationalism.
manyuses.
Handshakeisagreetingritualinwhichtwopeoplegraspeachother'shandsandmaymovetheirgraspedhandsupanddown.
Highfiveisacelebratoryritualinwhichtwopeoplesimultaneouslyraiseonehandandthenslapthesehandstogether.
Hitchhikinggesturesincludingstickingonethumbupward,especiallyinNorthAmerica,orpointinganindexfingertowardtheroadelsewhereto
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requestarideinanautomobile.
Hornsignisahandgesturemadebyextendingtheindexandlittlefingerstraightupward.IthasavulgarmeaninginsomeMediterraneanBasin
countrieslikeItalyandisusedinrockandroll,especiallyinheavymetalmusic.
ILYsigncombinestheletters'I','L',and'Y'fromAmericanSignLanguagebyextendingthethumb,indexfinger,andlittle
fingerwhilethemiddleandringfingertouchthepalm.Itisaninformalexpressionoflove.[17]
Knockingonwoodisasuperstitiousgestureusedtoensurethatagoodthingwillcontinuetooccurafterithasbeen
acknowledged.However,itissometimesusedafterspeakingofaplausibleunfortunateevent,sothatitdoesnotactually
occur.
KodlyhandsignsareaseriesofvisualaidsusedduringsinginglessonsintheKodlymethod.
Loser,madebyextendingthethumbandforefingertoresembletheletterLisaninsultinggesture.
Manopantea,whichisatraditionalwaytowardofftheevileye,ismadebyraisingtherighthandwiththepalmoutand
TheILYsign,"I
foldingthepinkyandringfinger.AnamuletwasfoundinPompeii.[18]
LoveYou"
Moneysign.Thethumbrubsrepeatedlyoverthetipoftheindexfingerandmiddlefinger.Thisgestureresemblestheactof
rubbingcoinsorbillstogetherandisgenerallyusedwhenspeakingaboutmoney.[11]
MoutzaisatraditionalinsultgestureinGreecemadebyextendingallfivefingersandpresentingthepalmorpalmstowardthepersonbeing
insulted.
NazisaluteorHitlersalutewasusedinGermanyduringWorldWarIItoindicateloyaltytoAdolfHitlerandtheNaziParty.
Numbersfromonetofivecanbeexpressedbyextendingoutanumberoffingers.
Outstretchedhand(withpalmup)isanearuniversalgestureforbeggingorrequesting,extendingbeyondhumanculturesandintootherprimate
species.[19]Thisgesturecanalsobedonewithbothhandstoformabowl.SeealsoOriginoflanguage.
Pointingwithindexfingermaybeusedtoindicateanitemorperson.[7]
PolliceversowasagesturesupposedlyusedinAncientRometopassjudgmentongladiatorswithone'sthumb.
Raisedfistisasaluteandlogomostoftenusedbyleftistactivists.
Respectisagesturemadebyextendingtheindex,middle,andringfingersofonehandatanotherpersonwiththemiddle
fingerraisedslightlyhigherthantheindexandringfingers.Itisusedinrestrictedcircleasasignofrespectandapproval.
TheRingisanItaliangestureusedinconversationtodelineatepreciseinformation,oremphasizeaspecificpoint.Itis
madesimilarlytotheAOksign,buttheringmadebythethumbandforefingerisontopwiththepalmfacingmedially.
amanpointingata
Thearmmovesupanddownattheelbow.Ifmoreemphasisisneededbothhandswillmakethegesturesimultaneously
photo
withthepalmsfacingoneanother.[20]
Romansaluteisasalutemadebyasmallgroupofpeopleholdingtheirarmsoutwardwithfingertipstouching.Itwas
adoptedbytheItalianFascistsandlikelyinspiredtheHitlersalute.
Salutereferstoanumberofgesturesusedtodisplayrespect,especiallyamongarmedforces.
ScouthandshakeisalefthandedhandshakeusedasagreetingamongmembersofvariousScoutingorganizations.
Shakasignconsistsofextendingthethumbandlittlefingerupward.ItisusedasagestureoffriendshipinHawaiiandsurfculture.
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Shockerisahandgesturewithasexualconnotation.Theringfingerandthumbarecurledorbentdownwhiletheotherfingersareextended.It
usesthesamefingersasthehandofbenediction,butisunrelated.
Thesosogestureexpressesmilddissatisfaction.Thehandisheldparalleltotheground(facedown)androckedslightly.[21]
Sweepingaflathandovertheheadfromfronttobackisaphysicalizationofthephrase"thatwentovermyhead"inEnglish.
TalktothehandisanEnglishlanguageslangexpressionofcontemptpopularduringthe1990s.The
associatedhandgestureconsistsofextendingapalmtowardthepersoninsulted.
Telephone.Thumbandlittleoutstretched,otherfingerstightagainstpalm.Thumbtoearandlittlefingerto
mouthasthoughtheywereatelephonereceiver.Usedtosay,"I'llcallyou,"ormaybeusedtorequesta
futuretelephoneconversationortotellsomeoneofacall.[22]
Threefingersalute(Serbian)isasaluteusedbyethnicSerbs,madebyextendingthethumb,index,and
middlefingers.TheinternationalBoyScoutsmovementalsousesathreefingersalute,butformsitby
touchingthethumbtothefirstjointofthelittlefinger,whichiscurleddowntotouchthepalmwhilethe
threeremainingfingers(index,middle,andringfingers)remainraised.TheBoyScoutsaluteismadeboth
bytouchingtheforeheadandthenglidingthehandawayfromit,andbyraisingitinahandofbenediction
PolliceVersobyJeanLonGrme.
gesture.(Theterm"threefingersalute"isalsoappliedinajokingwaytoTheFinger(seedescription
above)andalsototheCtrlAltDeletekeyboardcombination,pressedsimultaneously,toinitiatearestartof
apersonalcomputerortodisplayadialogueboxshowingallapplicationsandprocessesthenrunning.)
ThumbsUpandThumbsDownarecommongesturesofapprovalordisapprovalmadebyextendingthethumbupwardordownward..
Tomahawkchopisamotionofthearmwhichmimicstheslicingofahandaxeknownasthetomahawk.Thisgestureis
famouslyusedbysportsfansthatsupporttheFloridaStateSeminoles,AtlantaBraves,andotherteams.Thegesturebegins
withtherightarmbentupwardwiththefingersofthehandflatandtogether.Itfinisheswhenthearmisextendedinfrontof
theperson,inachoppingmotion.
Twofingersaluteisasalutemadeusingthemiddleandindexfingers.ItisusedbyPolishArmedForcesandbyCubScouts.
UnitedMacedoniasaluteisasaluteusedbysomenationalistEthnicMacedonians.ItresemblestheAOkgesture.
VsignorVictoryhandismadebyraisingtheindexandmiddlefingersandseparatingthemtoformaV,usuallywiththe
palmfacingoutwards.ThissignbegantobeusedduringWorldWarIItoindicate"VforVictory".Inthe1960s,thehippie
movementbegantousetheVsigntomean"peace",especiallyintheUnitedStates.ItisalsousedinmostcoastaleastAsian
Thumbup
[23]
[24]
nations,ineitherorientation,asanindicationofcutenesswhenbeingphotographed.ExamplesareChina, Japan, South
Korea,[25]Taiwan[26]andThailand.[27]
VsignasaninsultismadebyraisingtheindexfingerandmiddlefingerseparatedtoformaVwiththebackofthehandfacingoutwards.Thisis
anoffensivegestureintheUnitedKingdom,SouthAfrica,Australia,NewZealandandIreland.[28]
Varadamudraisamudrafordispensingboons.Itismadewithallfingersofthelefthandpointingdownward.
VulcansalutewasusedinthetelevisionprogramStarTrek.Itconsistsofallfingersraisedandpartedbetweentheringandmiddlefingerswiththe
thumbstickingouttotheside.ItwasdevisedandpopularizedbyLeonardNimoy,whoportrayedthehalfVulcancharacterMr.Spock,andwho
wrotethathebaseditonthePriestlyBlessingperformedbyJewishKohanimwithbothhands,thumbtothumbinthissameposition,representing
theHebrewletterShin().
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Wankergestureismadebycurlingthefingersintoaloosefistandmovingthehandupanddownasthoughmasturbating.Thegesturehasthe
samemeaningastheBritishslanginsult,"wanker",ormightindicateafailureorwasteinothercountries.
Waveisagestureinwhichthehandisraisedandmovedleftandright,asagreetingorsignofdeparture.
World'sSmallestViolin(alsocalled"HowSad"or"World'sSmallestViolinPlayingHeartsandFlowers")is
madebyrubbingthethumbandforefingertogether,toimitatebowingaviolin.Thisgestureisusedtoexpress
sarcasmandlackofsympathy,inresponsetosomeoneexaggeratingasadstoryorunfairtreatment.
ZogistsaluteisamilitarysaluteinstitutedbyZogIofAlbania.

Twohandgestures
Airquotesaremadebyraisingbothhandstoeyelevelandflexingtheindexandmiddlefingersofbothhands
whilespeaking.Theirmeaningissimilartothatofscarequotesinwriting.
AjaliMudrisasignofrespectamongyogapractitioners.Itismadebypressingthepalmstogether.
Applauseisanexpressionofapprovalmadebyclappingthehandstogethertocreatenoise.
Awkwardturtleisatwohandedgestureusedtomarkamomentasawkward.Onehandisplacedflatatopthe
otherwithbothpalmsfacingdown,fingersextendedoutwardfromthehandandthumbsstuckouttothesides.
Waving
Thethumbsarerotatedtosymbolizeflippers.[29]
Batsu.InJapaneseculture,thebatsu(literally:mark)isagesturemadebycrossingone'sarmsintheshapeof
an"X"infrontoftheminordertoindicatethatsomethingis"wrong"or"nogood".[30]
Brasd'honneurisanobscenegesturemadebyflexingoneelbowwhilegrippingtheinsideofthebentarmwiththeoppositehand
Chironomiareferstotheuseofgesturestosupportoratory.
TheKohanicorPriestlyBlessingagestureofbenedictioninJudaism,used(especiallybythoseofKohanicorpriestlydescent)whenrecitingthe
PriestlyBlessing(Number6:2226).Bothhandsareheldup,palmstowardthecongregation,withthefingersgroupedintwosthelittleandring
fingerstogether,theindexandsecondfingerstogether,andthetipsofthetwothumbstouching.
Handrubbing,rubbingbothhandstogether,indicateseitheronefeelscoldoroneisexpectingoranticipatingsomething.Rapidrubbingina
dustingfashionisanindicationofcontempttowardthoseseeingthemotion,ie:Arrogancestatingthattheindividualdoingtherubbingofhandsis
"donewithyou"yettootimidandcowardlytosayitoutright.
Handsup!isthegestureofexposingopenpalmsfacingsomeoneliftedabovewaistlinelevelusuallytoshoulderlevel"Itislinkedtomilitary
surrenderbecause,inperformingthegesture,itwouldbehardtoconcealordrawaweapontowardsthepersonyourarefacingfromanywhere
weaponscanbereadilyaccessiblewithoutthemnoticing.Also,therevealingofopenpalmsisseeninanimalbehaviour[31]asapsychologicaland
subconsciousbehaviourinbodylanguagetoconveytrust,opennessandcompliance.[32]
Jazzhandsareusedindanceorotherperformancesbydisplayingthepalmsofbothhandswithfingerssplayed.
ManiGiunteisanItaliangestureusedwhenexpressingexasperationordisbeliefbyputtingbothpalmstogetherinprayerandmovingthemdown
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andbackuptowardsyourchestrepeatedly.Alsoknownasthe"MotherofGod."[20]
ManoaborsaisanItaliangesture,usedwhensomethingisunclear.Itiscreatedbyextendingallthedigitsonthehand
bringingthemtogetherwithpalmsfacingupandmovingthehandupanddownbytheactionofthewristand/orelbow.It
impliesaquestion,suchas"whatdoyouwant?","whatareyousaying?"or"whatisyourpoint?",anditgenerallyrequiresa
response.Thisgesturecanbedonewitheitherhandorbothhands.[20]
Maru,(literally"circle")inJapanesecultureisagesturemadebyholdingbotharmscurvedovertheheadwiththehands
joined,thusformingacircularshape,toexpressthatsomethingis"correct"or"good".Thisisthecounterpartof"batsu",
above,thoughitsdailyuseisnotquiteaswidespread.[30]
MerkelRaute:Describedas"probablyoneofthemostrecognizablehandgesturesintheworld",thesignaturegestureof
AngelaMerkelhasbecomeapoliticalsymbolusedbybothhersupportersandopponents.[33]
Numbersfromsixtotencanbeexpressedbyextendingfingersonbothhands
Quenelle:ThegesturecreatedbyFrenchcomedianDieudonnM'BalaM'BalawasoftenassociatedwithantiZionismor
antisemiticsentiments.Itiscomparedtothebrasd'honneurandtheNazisalute.Itismadebytouchingtheshoulderofan
outstretchedarmwiththepalmoftheotherhand.[34]
SuckItisusedtoexpresssuperiorityoveranotherbyforminganXwithhandsoverthegroinarea.FirstusedbyDXofthe
WWEin1997.
Victoryclaspisusedtoexclaimvictorybyclaspingthehandstogetherandshakingthemtoone'sside.
Whatevermadewiththethumbandforefingerofbothhands,toformtheletter"W".Usedtosignalthatsomethingisnot
worththetimeandenergy.PopularizedbythemovieClueless.[35]

U.SSurrender
withraised
handsduringthe
Battleof
Corregidor

Jazzhands

Gesturesmadewithotherbodyparts
Airkiss,conveysmeaningssimilartokissing,butisperformedwithoutmakingbodilycontact
TheMerkel
Akanbe,performedbypullingalowereyeliddowntoexposetheredunderneath,oftenwhilealsostickingoutone'stongue,
Raute
andisachildishinsultinJapaneseculture
Anasyrma,performedbyliftingtheskirtorkiltusedinsomereligiousrituals
BlowingaraspberryorBronxcheer,signifiesderisionbystickingoutthetongueandblowingtocreateasoundsimilartoflatulence
Bowing,loweringthetorsoorheadashowofrespectinmanycultures
Cheekkissing,pressingone'slipstoanotherperson'scheek,mayshowfriendshiporgreeting
Curtsey,agreetingtypicallymadebywomen,performedbybendingthekneeswhilebowingthehead
Cuteye,gestureofcondemnationinJamaicaandsomeofNorthAmerica[36]
Davaivypyem(Russiandrinkingsign),theindexfingerisflickedagainstthesideoftheneck,justbelowthejaw.[37]
Dhyanamudra,sittingwithbothhandsinthelapsignifiesconcentration
DuckFaceapopulargestureamongteenagerswhichinvolvespuckeringlips.Thegestureisoftenusedasa"funnyface"whentakingpictures.
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Elbowbump,agreetingsimilartothehandshakeorfistbumpmadebytouchingelbows
Eskimokissing,agestureinWesterncultureslooselybasedonanInuitgreeting,performedbytwopeopletouchingnoses
Eyebrowraising.InMarshallIslandsculture,brieflyraisingtheeyebrowsisusedtoacknowledgethepresenceofanotherpersonortosignal
assent.[38]ItisalsocommonlyusedinthePhilippinestosignalaffirmationmuchlikenoddingisusedinwesterncultures.Eyebrowflashisused
forvariousmeaningsinothersettingsaswell.
Eyeroll,performedbyrotatingtheeyesupwardandbackdowncanindicateincredulity,contempt,boredom,frustration,orexasperationcanbe
performedunconsciouslyorconsciouslyoccursinmanycountriesoftheworld,andisespeciallycommonamongadolescents.[11]
Facepalm,anexpressionoffrustrationorembarrassmentmadebyraisingthepalmofthehandtotheface[39]
Genuflection,ashowofrespectbybendingatleastonekneetotheground
Handkissing,agreetingmadebykissingthehandofapersonworthyofrespect
Hattipordoff,asalutationorshowofrespectmadebytwopeopleremovingtheirhats
Headbobble,anaffirmativeresponseoracknowledgementcommoninIndia
Headshake,indicatesanegativereactiontoaqueryorarejectioninEnglishspeakingcultures
Facepalm
Hongi,atraditionalMorigreetinginNewZealand,performedbypressingone'snoseandforehead(atthesametime)to
anotherperson.
Kowtow,showsrespectbybowingdeeplyandtouchingone'sheadtotheground
Mooning,ashowofdisrespectbydisplayingone'sbarebuttocks
Mudra,ritualgesturesinHinduismorBuddhism
Nod,tiltingtheheadupanddownthatusuallyindicatesassentinWesternEurope,NorthAmerica,andtheIndiansubcontinent,amongother
places,butanodalsomeanstheoppositeinotherplaces,suchasBulgaria[40]
Orant,agesturemadeduringprayerinwhichthehandsareraisedwithpalmsfacingoutward
Pointingwiththelips.InthePhilippines,Venezuela,andothercultures,peoplemaypointatthingsbyfirstmakingeyecontact,thenpuckeringthe
lips,turningtheheadandgesturingthebottomlipinthedirectionofthethingtobeindicated.
Puppyface,tiltingtheheaddownwitheyeslookingup,likeapuppyhasanumberofuses
Puttingaslightlycuppedhand,withpalmdown,underthechinandthenflickingthefingersout(usuallyonceortwice),acommongesturein
ItalyforexpressingindifferencebecamethecenterofacontroversyinMarch2006,whenUnitedStatesSupremeCourtAssociateJusticeAntonin
ScaliawasphotographedallegedlymakingthegesturetoillustratehisresponsetohiscriticsaBostonHeraldreportermisinterpreteditas
"obscene"butScalialaterexplainedthathemerelymeant"Icouldn'tcareless."[41]
Shrug,liftingbothshouldersindicateslackofknowledgeorconcern.Sometimesthegestureisapalmsupwardsfrombentelbowsmotionwith
possibleraisedeyebrows.
Sampeah,aCambodiangreetingorgestureofrespectmadebyliningupthepalmsandfingerstogetherwhilebowing
Scoutsignandsalute,theuseofthethreefingersalutebyScoutandGuideorganizations
Shush,theindexfingerofonehandisextendedandplacedverticallyinfrontofthelips,withtheremainingfingerscurledtowardthepalmwith
thethumbformingafistusedtodemandorrequestsilencefromthosetowhomitisdirected[42]
SignoftheCross,usedinmanyChristianityrituals,consistsofdrawingtheshapeofacrossoverone'sbodyorintheair
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Suckteeth,gestureinWestIndiesalsoknownasstiupssignallingdisagreementorannoyance[36]
Thaigreeting,orwai,showsrespectorreverencebypressingthepalmsandfingerstogether
Throatslash,madebymovingone'sindexfinger,thumborentirehand,heldstraightandwithpalmdown,horizontally
acrossone'sthroatthegestureimitatescuttingaperson'sthroatwithablade,indicatingstrongdisapproval,extremeanger,
ordispleasurewithothersorwithoneself[11]alternatively,itcanbeasignaltostopbroadcasting,i.e."cut"
Thumbingthenose(alsoknownasAnne'sFanorQueenAnne'sFan[43]andsometimesreferredtoascockingasnook),[44]
asignofderisioninBritainmadebyputtingthethumbonthenose,holdingthepalmopenandperpendiculartotheface,
andwigglingtheremainingfingers,[5]oftencombinedwithstickingoutthetongue.Inatwohandedversion(deeror
The"cutthroat"or
mooseantlers),eachthumbisplacedinorslightlyinfrontoftheears,thepalmsareopenandfacingforward,andtherest
throatslashsign
ofthefingerswiggle.
Touchingheadsisagesturetoexpresspositiveemotionsbetweenfriends,relativels,loversetc.
Twistingthecheek.Thumbandforefingerareplacedagainstthecheek,andascrewingmotion,asifmakingadimple,ismadebytwistingthe
wristinItalianculture,thiscanmeanthatsomethingisdeliciousinGermany,thegesturecanbeusedtosuggestthatsomeoneiscrazy[5]
Woeisme,amelodramaticgestureofdistressmadebyliftingthearmandplacingthebackofthehandontheforehead.[45][46]
Zemnoypoklonor"greatbow",usedinsomeEasternOrthodoxChristianrituals,consistsofbowingdeeplyandloweringone'sheadtotheground

Seealso
Facialexpression
Handsignals
Listofmudras
Listofsignlanguages
Manualcommunication

WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoGestures.

References
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3. Kendon,Adam(1994)."Humangestures".InK.R.GibsonandT.Ingold.Tools,LanguageandCognitioninHumanEvolution.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity
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5. McNeill,David(1992).HandandMind:WhatGesturesRevealAboutThought.Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress.
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8. MarkSchumacher."ManekiNeko:TheLuckyBeckoningCat".
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on%20greek%20ix%20xc&f=false):BeingaContinuationoftheDictionaryoftheBible,Volume1WilliamGeorgeSmithandSamuelCheetham,London,John
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Externallinks
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