It stands for: “If I catch you you’re in deep trouble, I’ll hurt you.”
This might look as though it indicates hunger, but in fact sends a message of impending punishment. The bitten hand is then used to make a chopping gesture in the air. To be used carefully, particularly in Sicily.įor this gesture, teeth are chomped into a hand held horizontally at head height. There are Mafia overtones and it can be quite alarming when witnessed for the first time. It says: “Beware, I’m watching you every step you take and I’m not stupid.” This is clearly a warning gesture, deployed by placing an index finger below an eye, tilting the head and glowering. If an Italian does this to someone, they’re expressing approval.īasta/Uffa che palle (“Enough/My balls are getting this big…”) This one resembles the “horns,” but the thumb is rested gently against the cheek, the index finger remains clenched and the little finger points outwards. Not all Italian hand gestures have negative connotations.
‘Ntaccatu (Sicilian dialect, means something like “smart move”) There’s an equivalent for women – touching the left breast with the right hand. Get the tests back from the clinic: time to scratch, then maybe apply some ointment. In Italy, scratching down there is believed to keep evil spirits away and is done whenever a vaguely sinister event transpires.Ī black cat crosses the path: time to scratch. Italian men do this anytime, anywhere – but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re feeling itchy. The gesture involves using the left hand to mimic scratching a left testicle. It can be deployed jokingly to warn a friend that they’re overreacting – but mothers and potential girlfriends, especially those with burly older brothers, are considered strictly out of bounds.ĭon’t say you weren’t warned: this one involves genitals. It’s a fairly aggressive threat, so it’s probably best to seek butt-saving solutions – run if necessary. The literal meaning here is: “I’ll kick you so hard your buttocks will end up this far apart.” Thumbs are stuck out and index fingers used to indicate either side of the gap between them. Here, hands are held out at waist level, several inches apart. This is where the insults start drifting below the belt. Ti faccio un coso così (“I’ll make yours this big”)
#Woman eyes closed hands outstretched meme free#
It’s commonly used, so once anyone has mastered the irony of the gesture, they should feel free to to deploy it at will.īut be warned, it can turn nasty – usually signified when the swinging arm looks as if it’s about to turn into a slap. It usually involves an outstretched arm that is chopped up and down, often accompanied by a sweetly smiling face.ĭespite the mixed signals, the message is unequivocal: “Get lost.” The subtlety of this gesture often confuses non-Italians who fail to grasp its unsubtle meaning. ‘Ntze (No direct translation, but means “no”) It’s often an involuntary gesture – something we can’t help doing, like blinking or producing the world’s best gelato.
Italians frequently use it in conversation.Įven when they’re on the phone or talking to themselves. It can be used to ask “what the hell are you saying?” or “what the heck do you want?” When people portray Italian stereotypes, they often use this gesture.įor this one, the fingertips of either hand are brought together, upright while the hand is waved up and down. Ma che stai a dì/ma che vuoi? (“What the hell are you saying?”)
It’s OK to use this when stuck in traffic. Often they’re used as a superstitious gesture – the devil’s horns are said to drive away curses or bad luck.Ī single horned hand can be used to indicate someone is a cuckold, or more simply, a bastard. The middle and ring fingers are clenched while the thumb, index and and little fingers are extended. Horns play almost as big a part in Italian sign language as testicles.
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