# The right-left of clasping hands **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712 "2020-02-10T04:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712/21 "2020-02-12T02:53:39Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Do you mean “on top” as in “closer to the ceiling”? Or as in “forearm on top of the other forearm”? I meant the latter. But “right arm” is my answer to _both_ your questions. 😕 > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Interestingly, when I’m carring a load of stuff and want a hand free to, say, open a doorknob, the right arm is the one that holds the pile of stuff and the left one does the door-opening. I also hold my phone in my right hand and type on it with my left. I do most things with my right hand. Including carrying a bag despite that an awkward shift will be needed so my right hand can use key to open door. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712/22 "2020-02-12T16:43:09Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I meant the latter. But “right arm” is my answer to _both_ your questions. 😕 Hmm. I can cross my arms so as to produce that effect, but it takes an effort, and deliberately raising my elbows up. When I cross my arms naturally, my right hand is on top of my left arm in both senses, but my left hand and part of my left forearm are closer to the ceiling than my right arm and forearm; and most of my right arm is lower to the ground, it’s coming up from below to cross over the left arm. I can easily also cross my arms the other way around, which apparently some people find awkward; but if I do it without thinking about it at all, the right hand winds up on top – actually, if I do it the other way around, it’s hard to say which is on top; they’re about equal – each hand is on top of the other forearm, and the forearms are close to horizontal with each other. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712/23 "2020-02-13T03:38:17Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I thought it was almost universal that the right thumb would be on top. At summer camp, I learned a trick where you clasp your hands upside-down with your arms crossed, then put your index fingers on each side of your nose and then uncross your arms. Then you challenge someone else to do the same trick and they can’t do it – the reason being that it only works if you clasp your hands the “wrong” way. > > It’s hard to describe and I’m not sure how to do an internet search for it. I just tried it four different ways: right arm on top - right thumb on top ,right arm - left thumb, left arm - right thumb, and left arm - left thumb. Results: right finger on left side of nose and left finger on right side no matter how I started. And I still could uncross my arms from any of them. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712/24 "2020-02-13T21:24:24Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Next step. > > Do you have a partner that you often hold hands with? Try the same exercise, but with your partner. Then switch sides. > > By myself, I put my left thumb over my right thumb. But when I (F) hold hands with my partner (M), it’s more more comfortable for his thumb to be over mine. Both sides. My theory is that it’s more comfortable as his hand is a bit bigger than mine. > > He also puts his left thumb over his left thumb. When Ms. P and I hold hands (usually, but not always, my left and her right) my thumb is on top. Our son and his girl friend don’t usually clasp hands when they’re holding hands. Maybe that’s because their hands are closer in size than mine and Ms. P’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-left-of-clasping-hands/847712.md?page=1)