History Main / MemeticHandGesture

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16883917860.03463600 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

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[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vulcan2_1113.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:320:[[Franchise/StarTrek "Live long and prosper."]]]]

Any hand gesture that's become emblematic of the character, series, or situation in which it appears.

Cousin of StrangeSalute. See also CharacterTics.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'''s sideways [[VSign V-for-victory sign]] (while winking), as well as her thumb-index finger-pinky raised with both hands, her [[http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=list&tags=tsuki_ni_kawatte_oshioki_yo "In the name of the moon, I'll punish you]]" pose.
* [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lt/GendoGlasses.jpg Gendo Ikari]] of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. His trademark covering-the-mouth variant (which, originally, [[FilmingForEasyDub existed to cover his mouth]] and [[NoBudget cut down on necessary animation]]) is often called "[[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-gendo-pose the Gendo pose]]". For a while, it was a popular imageboard pastime to add the "Gendo Hands" to existing works via Photoshop.
** It even has its own [[FingerTenting trope.]]
** Gendo's two fingers to the bridge of his glasses is also trademark of him.
* The Son family's HandBehindHead from ''Manga/DragonBallZ''.
** Additionally the KameHameHa stance, with the double hands drawn back and thrown forward.
* ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'': Ash Ketchum's capture pose, complete with Pikachu popping up in a different pose and going "Pi pi ka chu!" He also does it when he gets a gym badge, with all the Pokémon that fought in that battle posing with him. It's even parodied in the episode where Tracey catches his Scyther: the episode ends with Ash lecturing him on how to properly pose in triumph after a capture.
** Ash turning his cap when he throws a Pokéball to catch a Pokémon. It went missing for several years but ''Best Wishes'' brought it back.
* ''Anime/{{Macross}}'':
** ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'': Ranka Lee's *sparkle* hand gesture.
** ''Anime/MacrossDelta'' gives us two versions of Walkure's "W" hand gestture - one for two hands, and one for one hand. The latter becomes HilariousInHindsight when you realize that it looks exactly like the LA West Side Crips gang sign.
* Pointing one's arm straight up with the index finger extended is synonymous with ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' and specifically [[ArcWords piercing the heavens.]]
* The military in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' [[http://media.animevice.com/uploads/1/18405/640124-shingeki_no_kyojin___03___large_01_super.jpg have a very distinctive salute.]] They place their right fist over their heart, and their left at the base of their spine.
* Flashing {{V Sign}}s with both hands has become sort of a thing in hentai.
* The Mikuru Beam pose from ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', involving flashing a VSign over your eye. There's a double version with two hands over both eye, but the singular version is the most remembered one.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' is well-known for its love of {{Asskicking Pose}}s, but among the most famous are Jonathan Joestar's palm-in-front-of-the-face, Jotaro Kujo's [[GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger finger-pointing]], and Josuke Higashikata's face-framing.
* In ''Literature/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'', Yuuta covers most of his face with his hand in his Dark Flame Master persona. Nibutani mockingly mimics it when imitating him from time to time.
* Jaden Yuki from ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' has a salute that he tosses to his opponents after winning a duel, usually accompanied with "That's game!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'''s web-shooting gesture. It's because the trigger for the webshooters is on his palm, and designed so that only just the right pressure and a double-tap could activate it. This prevents the normal motions of his hands (for instance, forming a fist) from slinging web everywhere.
* Elsewhere in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, among the ComicBook/XMen, there's the (generally not used so much anymore) PstandardPsychicPstance used by Professor X and occasionally Jean Grey. ''Not'' among the X-Men, ComicBook/ScarletWitch often does a Spidey-like gesture in the air when using her hex power. Her earliest appearances have it so that if her hand ''accidentally'' falls into a close enough position a hex effect will happen, its target (and severity) completely random. By now, she's [[RealityWarper much better at directing it]]. ComicBook/DoctorStrange also has gestures he uses when working magic, which ''also'' look Spider-Man-esque. (It's like they were created by the same guy or something).
* ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'': Spider Jerusalem lighting a cigarette, head slightly cocked, hand cupped in front of it. Hard to describe, but if you've seen a picture of him, you've seen him do this. Gets lampshaded in-series; at one point, Channon comments that Yelena is turning into Spider, and while Yelena's denying it, she makes this exact pose.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'': The pose with her wrists crossed and hands in fists which is generally associated with her deflecting an attack with her bracelets and which was modified a bit to become the Amazon salute in the Post-Crisis continuity, which can be seen on the cover of [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 Volume 2]].
* Doctor Strange often does a MagicalGesture that is consistently common enough to be spoofed an issue of Bongo Comics'''Simpsons Super Specatular'' where a character summoned a demon in an occult attempt to cure himself of his hands of making weird gestures. Their local Doctor Strange pastiche also makes the same gestures whenever casting.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:ImageBoards]]
* The [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fgsfds FGSFDS]] meme, a meme based around the hand gesture of one random person holding up their index finger, usually with their mouth open. It's intended to signal that a conversation has lost all traces of seriousness/sanity.
** Allegedly stands for "For God's sake, fuck dis shit" though this may be a Backronym.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/AustinPowers:'' Just try to imitate Doctor Evil saying "One million dollars!" and your hand (with little finger extended) will move up to your mouth almost by itself. EvilLaugh is optional. The little finger is not.
* ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'':
** The CIA Agent hooking his thumbs behind his belt while waiting for Dr. Pavel.
** Bane's habit of holding onto the lapels of his coat.
* ''Franchise/TheMatrix'': BringIt.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** [[JediMindTrick These are not the droids you're looking for.]] (Waves hand once.)
** Vader's force choke, too.
* ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'': Both from ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', the T-1000's silent finger waggle and the T-800's final thumbs up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': The District Twelve salute (touching your lip with your three middle fingers and then holding that hand out) becomes a symbol of the rebellion in-universe, as well as going memetic in real life.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/RedDwarf'''s Arnold Rimmer and his OverlyLongGag StrangeSalute procedures.
* Mr. Saxon of ''Series/DoctorWho'' gives this trope two thumbs up. So famous, the page image has served on at least four different pages.
* Spike of ''Series/{{Buffy|the Vampire Slayer}}'' fame once pulled a VSign with the palm facing away from the intended target, which made it into the opening credits. It's infamous, because the American censors didn't realize the gesture is ''not'' a variation on the victory sign, but is actually an obscene gesture in certain countries, including Spike's native Britain. While not unique, it's rare on American TV.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'''s Vulcan salute. See the RealLife section for more details.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' has the hand gesture that [[TheCaptain Captain Picard]] makes whenever he says "Engage" to get the ''Enterprise'' moving.
* ''Series/MorkAndMindy'': the Orkan greeting, coupled with "[[CatchPhrase Nanu nanu]]," is a Vulcan salute turned sideways.
* Adam Richman from the Travel Channel show ''Series/ManVFood'' is trying to establish one of these for when he starts one of the food challenges; it's not immediately obvious what it is. It appears to be three signs. First, an "M," which he's done in two ways, either three or four fingers pointing down. If he uses four, the middle two stay together. Then, a "V". Last, an "F," formed by taking his right hand and extending the index and middle fingers horzontally, then using one finger on his left hand raised vertically to make the back of the F.
* Carol Burnett pulling her ear at the end of [[Series/TheCarolBurnettShow her self-titled show]].
* The "Be Seeing You" gesture from ''Series/ThePrisoner1967''.
** A variation (with the looped thumb and forefinger over the forehead instead of the eye) is used by Psi Cop Bester in ''Series/BabylonFive''.
* ''Series/TheApprentice'': "You're fired!" Nicknamed [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast "The Cobra"]]
* Tendou Souji of ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'' always points to the sun when reciting his CatchPhrase. Attempts at memetic hand gestures would become more frequent in later seasons. ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'' is best known for spamming this half to death, with the four Imagin characters each displaying their own. ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' does this with both the title character and some supporting ones, to the extent that a scene with all the characters tied up has one guy with his hands somehow ''bound into his memetic hand gesture.'' There's also a different sound effect for every gesture.
** ''Fourze'' also had a secret handshake that Gentaro gives to pretty much anyone he befriends.
** ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'''s title character has the thumbs up, to the point where his [[Series/KamenRiderDecade alternate universe counterpart]] pulls it off as a MythologyGag.
** Several poses the Kamen Riders pull as they shout "HENSHIN!" become this. The poses used to be more elaborate and dancelike, the sort that these days are associated solely with ''Franchise/PowerRangers[=/=]Franchise/SuperSentai''. [[Series/KamenRider Takeshi Hongo's]] is legend, and imitated everywhere. Now the poses are more subtle, but when done right, less is more.
** The most well known example from recent series is [[Series/KamenRider555 Takumi's epic wrist flick]], which does double duty as a suave taunt and [[CharacterTics a way to identify if it's really Takumi in the suit]]. An earlier example was [[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Shinji Kido's fist pump]], but the wrist flick returned with [[Series/KamenRiderDouble Shotaro]] and [[Series/KamenRiderDrive Shinnosuke]].
* ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'': Bridge likes his toast buttery, and can't help but wiggle his fingers whenever he ''says'' "buttery". When called on this, he denies it - only to realize it's still happening, even as he tries to stop himself.
* ''Series/HappyDays'': Fonzie's "aaay!" thumbs up.
* ''Series/TwinPeaks'' has the Bookhouse Boys' Salute, in which one rubs one's index finger along one's eyebrow, outward.
* Series/{{Ultraman}}'s Specium Ray gesture, which is done by crossing one arm over the other [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/ultra/images/d/dc/Ultraman_I.png/revision/latest?cb=20140316104021 like this]]. His [[Franchise/UltraSeries many successors]] have had their own variants on it, and it is widely parodied across Japan (and the most common way to reference to Ultraman in the west).
* ''Series/SiskelAndEbert'' famously awarded each movie they reviewed a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down. Their thumbs were in fact ''trademarked'' to prevent other shows from copying them!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/AmonAmarth's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndu33Uv7Aco "Raise Your Horns"]] is partly a HeavyMeta reference to the "horns" gesture in HeavyMetal fandom (hand upraised, palm facing the band, pinkie and index finger straight, thumb and other fingers curled).
* Music/TheWiggles and their finger-pointing/wiggling gesture, iconic to many Australians who grew up with their material.
* Joakim Brodén of Music/{{Sabaton}} has a habit of [[MilkingTheGiantCow gesticulating wildly between song lines]], particularly doing a lunge and then beating on his right leg. It became a FountainOfMemes shortly after the video for [[https://youtu.be/oVWEb-At8yc "Bismarck"]] came out.
* Music/{{Eminem}} likes to [[FlippingTheBird give the finger]] in the same way other rappers do gang signs.
* Music/BabyMetal raises the traditional Japanese fox sign (little and index fingers raised and the other three fingers pointing to the front with their tips touching), in line with their lore as the messengers of the Fox God.
* Music/Hinatazaka46 has the katakana ''hi'' (ヒ) sign (thumb and index fingers forming a C-shape and the rest put close together and pointed upwards).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/TheKliq/Wolfpac sign, AKA "2 Sweet", later passed down to Wrestling/BulletClub. (Search "fox head" in the Real Life folder for its origin.)
* Wrestling/JohnCena's weird-assed [[http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/cena.jpg pinkies-extended fist-bump]]. And of course his "You Can't See Me" hand wave and OK signs.
* Wrestling/MattCardona's hand gestures in the shape of "L" and "I", for Long Island, both as his WWE persona of Zack Ryder and under his real name.
* Wrestling/MattHardy's [[http://wrestlingsuperstore.com/images/products/detail/zpfile003.jpg "Version 1" hand sign]], shown by holding his right hand's ring finger with his thumb to make a V and a 1, which lasted long after he dropped the "Version 1" gimmick.
** And, much more recently, the [[https://i.imgur.com/sHhykSc.gif DELETE! arm-swipe]] birthed along with his "Broken" (or "Woken" in WWE until they get the legal issues ironed out) gimmick. Somewhat less memetic, but still strongly associated with Broken Matt would be his [[https://primaryignition.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/1469116700514.png (WONDERFUL, yee-e-ee-e-s..!) arms-outstretched pose]]
* Wrestling/AJStyles' [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ff/a0/82/ffa0822603eeabe49383b522dc6ec37d.jpg "P1" hand sign]], involves him holding the back of his left hand against the right palm, forming the "P1" logo on his gloves.
* Wrestling/DiamondDallasPage's [[http://www.diamonddallaspage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/BOY_78967.5x10-712.png "Diamond Cutter" hand sign.]]
* Wrestling/TheAcclaimed and their "scissoring", where the two of them [[VisualInnuendo make V signs with their fingers and jam them together]]. It started with Anthony Bowens just holding his fingers downward to make an "A" for Acclaimed, but then Caster responded by jamming his own fingers into it, and it caught on. It ''really'' took off when Wrestling/BillyGunn joined them, leading to the startlingly-over [[MemeticMutation "SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS!"]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sport]]
* In UsefulNotes/AustralianRulesFootball, the goal umpires' "goal" signal (both arms at the sides, elbows bent at 90 degrees, index fingers pointing forward)
* In UsefulNotes/{{cricket}}, the "out" signal (right arm raised, index finger pointing "to the heavens", as commentators often say), as well as the "six" signal (both arms raised, palms showing).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has the sign of the aquila (crossing both hands across the chest and hooking thumbs), meant to represent the Imperium's two-headed eagle insignia. The Adeptus Mechanicus has a variant where the fingertips are folded up, representing their cogwheel insignia.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* UsefulNotes/PekingOpera has a ton:
** Female roles have long, flowing sleeves that they throw out in an arc during significant solos.
** Older roles stroke their beard whenever they're plotting something.
** Badass characters who have the feather hat (i.e. what UsefulNotes/LuBu is seen to wear in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'') will hold one of the feathers in their hand during solos.
** [[Literature/JourneyToTheWest Son Wukong]], in addition to a ton of monkey-like mannerisms (he'll scratch himself and pick imaginary ticks off his body, then "eat" them), is most often seen peering into the distance with his hand in an [[ReverseArmFold almost backwards military salute pose]], to signify that he's using his telescopic vision.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Revolver Ocelot of ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', honorary TropeNamer. His famous two hand gun salute was originally improvised by his motion capture actor; the directors decided to ThrowItIn, because they couldn't get enough of it. It's so memetic he [[spoiler:uses his last breath to repeat the gesture in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'']].
** Possibly memetic within the gameworld, too; in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'', it's possible to see both The Boss and EVA doing the hand gesture.
** At one interview, Creator/HideoKojima didn't even say Ocelot's name when [[spoiler:revealing who the Boss's son is in ''3'']]; he just did the gesture.
* The vast majority of the poses and gestures made during court cases in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series.
** One episode of ''[[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' has a "trial" scene that replicates many of these perfectly.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaCDiGames'': The King's 'mah boi' pose, where he points his finger upwards and has his eyes and mouth very wide open. Though [[BeamMeUpScotty the line "Mah boi" is from moments earlier]], and the line he's actually saying when making the pose is "This peace is what ''all'' true warriors strive for."
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' has made the air quotes gesture memetic with its infamous line "Ah yes, 'Reapers'". It is often rendered with single quotes (and single fingers for air quotes), because the turian councilor who delivers the line only has three fingers per hand. If you are familiar with this meme, it is pretty much guaranteed that you will chuckle every time you see that gesture (and in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' there are actually several characters who make it).
* Holding an item above your head is [[ItemGet iconic in a multitude of video games]]. Frequently lampshaded. While it predates ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''The Legend of Zelda'' made it more famous.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', it is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] by an NPC who tells Link to hold the item (an empty bottle) above his head for the world to see because it is "good for business".
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': Mario and the VSign.
* VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog's FingerWag.
* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' has Anna resting her index finger on her chin. Devious grin optional.
** [[HotBlooded Owain's]] hand-over-face gesture is so Memetic it's part of his character portrait, and if he's a Myrmidon, his idle map sprite has him making the very stance.
* The eponymous VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe has the "pinky, middle finger and thumb extended" hand gesture that he likes to use. He'll even ''punch'' people with it. There's also the [[http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Games/B/Bayonetta/Everything%20Else/Bayonetta%20references/Henshin2--article_image.jpg Henshin pose]] used by both Joe and Captain Blue (which is also a ShoutOut to ''Series/KamenRider''.)
* RealLife example: {{Creator/Nintendo}} President Creator/SatoruIwata and his tendency in the company's ''WebVideo/NintendoDirect'' videos to thrust both hands, towards the viewer whenever he used the word "directly" (English) or "chokusetsu" (Japanese). The other hosts in the videos also use the same gesture, but for some reason it's associated only with Iwata. In ''VideoGame/{{Miitomo}}'' this became an AscendedMeme (and/or a tribute to the sadly-deceased Iwata) as Miis will mimic the gesture every time they say the word "direct". Additionally, buried in the code of the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch is the game ''NES Golf'', which Iwata himself had programmed during his days with Creator/HALLaboratory. It's only playable on one day in the year (being 11 July, the anniversary of his passing), and is unlocked on that day when the player [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGN6QXv7sfs&t=1m45s replicates his iconic gesture with the Joy-Con controllers from the Switch home menu.]]
** Another Nintendo related one is the raising of the hand and then the snapping of fingers in order to mimick the iconic UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch snapping sound. This is usually acompanied by a "Switch" {{Pun}}. The first use of it was during the Nintendo Switch Presentation in January 2017.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' has Jake's "Double pistols and a wink" pose, as well as Bro's[[spoiler:/Dirk's]] [[http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo1axuoRLI1qafrh6.jpg thumbs down pose.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The ''WebVideo/NintendoDirect'' [[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me61o7fJzX1qzp9weo1_1280.jpg gesture]], putting both your hands at the sides of your face and pointing outward with them, whenever saying the word "Direct" (or in the Japanese versions, "chokusetsu", Japanese for "direct")
* The Bros Pose from ''WebAnimation/TheFrolloShow'', which consists of one character performing a thumbs-up, and the other character having his/her arms stretched outward.
* Creator/LinManuelMiranda's [[https://twitter.com/campbellbird148/status/880807470263881728 "Greatjob"]], which is a reference to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoQtpAvGQFc this]] ''Podcast/MyBrotherMyBrotherAndMe'' bit.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Brohoof! (Basically a personalized FanNickname of the Bro Fist, see below. Does, in fact, appear on the show.)
** The show's variant is known as a hoof-bump and the equivalent of a high-five.
* Finn and Jake do a fist pound over the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' logo at the start of each show...and at random times during most episodes.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Mixels}}'', the Nixels have a thumbs-down Nixel hand as their logo. It's used on various things such as flags, belt symbols, and staffs.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' has the Team Venture sign, which is when two or more people each do a V-sign high above their heads and press their fingertips together while exclaiming "[[CatchPhrase Go Team Venture!]]" Though it started as the annoying habit of young Hank and Dean, the gesture was eventually used by so many characters that Hank declined to participate because it was "too watered down".
* Mr. Burns' "tapping fingertips together while exclaiming 'Excellent!'" gesture on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The Queen's Wave, often attributed to HM Queen Elizabeth II is often used for royalty in British media.
* The [[OlderThanTheyThink Roman salute]] (actually a French invention [[HollywoodHistory falsely associated with Rome]]), forever co-opted by the Nazis. Fun fact: before it became associated with Nazism, it was regarded as just another salute, and was used by American schoolchildren reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Once Hitler got hold of it, the hand-over-the-heart was prudently adopted.
* The Tomahawk Chop, originated at Florida State University, also used at Atlanta Braves games (and several other stadiums with teams named after Native American themes).
* FlippingTheBird, i.e., The Finger.
* UsefulNotes/{{Winston Churchill}}'s [[VSign V for Victory]], which inspired many of these, including:
** UsefulNotes/RichardNixon's double-V-sign pose.
** UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's W sign.
* "The horns" have a number of vastly different meanings depending on the context.
** The international symbol of [[HeavyMetal Metal]]. Ronnie James Dio credited himself as the originator of the gesture in this context, taken from his Italian grandmother's ward against the evil eye.
** In Italy it can also be used to suggest that the gesture's target is a {{cuckold}}.
** "Hook 'em, Horns" used by fans of the University of Texas, most notably the school's American football team. It is a stylized version of the school's mascot, the Longhorn.
*** Other colleges with cattle-themed mascots, such as the University of South Florida Bulls, use a similar hand gesture.
*** Fans of rivals of said schools (''especially'' Oklahoma and Texas A&M for UT, and UCF for South Florida) will use this gesture, but mock it by pointing the "horns" down. They even call this version "Horns Down". For added insult value, some will do "Horns Down" with both hands. Fans of West Virginia (which, inexplicably, is a member of Texas' home of the Big 12 Conference) have been known to use it even in games that don't involve the Horns.
** A similar gesture with the thumb and pinky is usually associated with Pacific islanders and/or surfers and is a general-purpose indicator of good times. (So, yes, it's ''really'' [[FlippingTheBird a Hawaiian good luck sign]].)
** The Japanese fox head sign -- traditionally associated with [[AsianFoxSpirit kitsune]] -- has been used as a substitute for the horns by Music/BabyMetal.
** The same gesture as the "fox head", with the thumb, middle and ring fingers pointing forward, is also the salute of the Turkish nationalist Grey Wolf movement.
* Texas A&M has the "Gig 'em" sign, basically a Thumbs-Up gesture meant to represent sticking (gigging) something (a horned frog, the mascot of TCU, an old rival) with a sharp stick.
** The cuckold's horns. Holding your hand in this fashion behind someone's head, especially for a picture, is a prank implying that someone is sleeping with the person's wife. Occasionally a V-sign is used instead, especially in America, where it's called "Bunny Ears" and carries no cuckold implications. Ditto in the UK, where it's usually known as "Deer Antlers" or just "Deer" (dear). Often in the UK, this is also a cheeky term of endearment.
*** The "Hook 'em, Horns" gesture is known as the ''cornuto'' in Italy, and carries the same major implications as the cuckold's horns, leading to trouble for Texas Longhorns fans who travel there.
* The "shocker" is a sexually charged gesture which involves the ring finger folded down and held by the thumb, with the other three fingers extended and the index and middle finger being kept together, with the back of the hand facing away from the gesturer. This can lead to trouble for fans of three schools in particular, all of which use variations of the gesture with the back of the hand facing toward the gesturer.
** Arizona State University and the University of Houston use a version in which the middle and index fingers are separated. ASU calls it "The Pitchfork", an allusion to the pitchfork carried by the school's Sun Devil mascot. For Houston, nicknamed Cougars, this gesture represents "The Cougar Paw". [[labelnote:Explanation]]UH's first live mascot, Shasta, was injured in an accident and lost a toe. The gesture is in her honor and may at one point have been meant to discourage rival teams from heckling their injured mascot.[[/labelnote]]
** For Wichita State University, which is actually ''nicknamed the Shockers'', the difference in finger position from the sexual version is that the thumb doesn't hold the ring finger down, but is instead pointed outward. ("Shockers" is actually short for "wheatshockers", an antiquated term for a wheatfield harvest worker.) In the Wichita context, the gesture represents the letter "W".
* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-finger_salute_(Serbian) Serbian three-finger salute]], consisting of the thumb, index finger, and middle finger upraised (and typically spread apart). A traditional symbol of Serbian nationalism, it's thus ''extremely'' provocative among Croats, Bosniaks, and Kosovar Albanians. This can lead to trouble for Vanderbilt Commodores fans who travel to those areas, as that fanbase uses the same gesture (fingers always spread apart) to represent "VU" (Vanderbilt University).
* University of Louisville fans frequently throw up an "L", formed by holding the index and middle fingers of the right hand together, raising them as a unit, and sticking that thumb to the side. (The right-hand version naturally forms an "L" viewable by someone facing the gesturer; to do this with the left hand, one must rotate the hand 180 degrees.) Much like rivals of Texas, USF, and the like with "Horns Down", U of L's rivals, ''especially'' University of Kentucky fans (aka Big Blue Nation), inevitably respond with an inverted version, and they have no qualms about making that one double-barreled.
* A heartwarming version was adopted by Wake Forest University football fans in the 2006 season. A few months before the season, Luke Abbate, younger brother of star Wake linebacker Jon Abbate, died from injuries suffered in a car crash while he was returning from a lacrosse practice. Jon asked to change his number from 40 to his brother's lacrosse number of 5 for that season, and his coach agreed. Before the fourth quarter of Wake's first game, the Abbate family held up all five fingers of their hands as a tribute to Luke. As the Demon Deacons made an unexpected run to the Atlantic Coast Conference title, the gesture was picked up by the team, Wake's fanbase, and even ''opposing fans''. This gesture inspired the title of a 2011 film about Abbate and the 2006 Deacons season, ''The 5th Quarter''.
* The Thumbs-Up gesture, which depending on where you are is used either to show agreement or approval or to say "Up yours!"
* Bro Fist!
* "AirQuotes". Holding both hands up with the index and middle fingers extended, then flexed when saying a specific word to emulate quotation marks. Sometimes used to [[SarcasmMode denote sarcasm]] over what you're saying. Also used when imitating [[Film/AustinPowers Dr. Evil]].
* The Christian "Sign of the Cross", which goes: Forehead, stomach, left shoulder, right shoulder (right-to-left in the Eastern Orthodox churches and among Eastern Rite Catholics). Aside from the obvious geometrical shape of the Cross, the points correspond to the prayer that goes with it: "In the name of the Father (head = knowledge/thought) and of the Son (womb = son) and of the Holy Spirit (arms = empowerment)." A number of [[UsefulNotes/ThePope popes]] have also held that the downward motion is indicative of Jesus' descent from Heaven to Earth, with a number of interpretations for the right-to-left/left-to-right motion.
** Some other religions have adopted similar gestures, tracing their own holy symbols in place of the cross. For instance, pagans and Filyani might trace a star (the usual order being lips, left hip, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and finally lips again).
* The [[WebVideo/VlogBrothers nerdfighter]] salute. It is accomplished by making a Vulcan salute (1st two fingers together and last two fingers together, forming a V, with the thumb extended to the side) with each hand and crossing the arms over the chest. Can also be a plain old Vulcan salute like in the page image.
* The military salute, a flat palm held at the brim of one's hat. In Britain, the palm is turned up, except for the Navy, where it's turned down.[[note]]In the days of WoodenShipsAndIronMen, sailors' hands were often stained from the tar that preserved hemp ropes, and showing a dirty palm to an officer was considered rude.[[/note]]
* Similarly associated with the military is the "Knife Hand", where one points with the entire hand (almost as if one were about to karate chop someone). Supposedly adopted because GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger was considered too aggressive for a kinder gentler military, but acting like you're about to karate chop them in the throat isn't. Or, as one Air Force MTI put it:
-->"[[DoubleEntendre Give 'em all five fingers, to show them you care.]]"
* The Merkel-Rhombus (Merkel-Raute), UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel's iconic way of putting her fingertips together. The Guardian refers to it as "probably one of the most recognisable hand gestures in the world".
** Before Merkel, you were most likely to see this gesture made by Afro-American operatic soprano Leontyne Price as she sang.
* UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump's [[https://outline-prod.imgix.net/20170424-0us2Ytc6WP3NndATExff?auto=format&q=60&w=1000&s=a0a589663afdf6a1862593821c640cc8 habit of making the "ok" hand gesture as he speaks]] has become this. It's common for his supporters to pose for pictures while making the same gesture. Trolls took notice and managed to fool white supremacists into adopting it as a racist/white supremacist symbol.
** Also Trump's habit of holding his hands with the palms facing and moving them apart and together while talking, has become known as "accordion hands". [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhDz8xMXU8s Some have made it less invisible.]]
** Bill Clinton was similarly known for pointing with his thumbs during speeches, as an alternative to GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger.
* Crossed fingers behind one's back [[LyingFingerCross indicates that they are lying]] to whoever they are addressing. By keeping the fingers behind their back, they ensure the other person can't see it.
* The [[http://imgur.com/yVZCO fingers and thumb together, pointing up gesture]] stereotypically associated with Italians, taken to mean "what the f***?"
* Creator/LeonardNimoy adopted the famous Vulcan Salute, along with its greets "Live long and prosper" and "Peace and long life" from the Priestly Blessing, a part of the Jewish service. It is modeled after the Hebrew letter ''shin'', the first letter of ''Shaddai'', one of the names of God.
* The "fig sign" consists of making a fist with the tip of the thumb extending from between the index and middle fingers. The actual meaning varies throughout the world, but in many countries it's a reference to [[CountryMatters female genitalia]] and is considered either obscene or challenging somebody to a fight...except in Portugal, where it's a symbol of good luck.
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