As someone who came of age in the “high five” generation, would someone please explain the proper technique and dynamics of the fist bump to me? (Surely you didn’t expect this thread to be about anything else!)
The high five and its myriad variations seems to me both widely applicable, comfortable, and natural. Most often, it is done casually - one guy simply shows his palm, and the other touches it, generally around waist level. As a celebration or congratulation it can be done more demonstrably.
But I’ve never gotten as comfortable with the fist bump. To my eyes, there is something awkward about one guy making a fist and extending it towards the other - especially if the guys are at a distance that requires that they walk towards each other with fists extended. And I assume it is appropriate to bump knuckles horizontally instead of the presumably passe up and down bump?
Back in the day, you might say, “Gimme five” or “Slip me some skin.” Is there any comparable invitation to “Bump my fist”?
The other day I was walking into a building and as I passed a security guard I know I held up a hand in greeting - just gesturing “Hi.” He responded by smiling and holding his hand up at about head-level in a fist with the knuckles towards me. Was this an invitation to bump fists, or just some kind of greeting/salutation?
Oh for the simple days of soul handshakes! I’m sure Huggy Bear could set me straight in short order.
My students do this to me all the time. Let them make the first gesture, reply in kind, and let them initiate contact. If they have anything more in mind than a simple bump, they’ll show you. And yes, you dissed the security guard when you failed to reply to his fist. Watch your back!
No, I just think extending your fist that way suffices.
The former, I’d guess.
And may I say, referring to “fisting techniques” in the thread title might be, um, misconstrued. Of course, it would bring some people into this thread who otherwise wouldn’t look. I’m sure that was your intention.
But what does an old fogey do when he wants to offer a sign of greeting/acknowledgment/etc to someone else - either to a younger person of fistbump age, or to another codger in a futile attempt to appear hip and “with it.” How do I initiate the fist bump without looking as clueless as I apparently am? Are there rules for when a fist bump is or is not appropriate?
The term you’re looking for is “knucks” (nux). You just have to say knucks and the other person should put their fist up. Way more streamlined than those silly 4 and 5 syllable phrases.
That is more of each taking a closed fist and pounding the bottom of your fist over the top of the other persons fist. An up and down motion like slaping the skin on someone. Dap. Yeah, my brother in law will hold up is fist and say “pound it”. Might vary from area to area though.
My brother says “gimme a knuckle on that one sis” and that means he wants me to give him a knuckle tap like discribed in the OP. More of a front to back motion with your fist. Like two punches connecting hand to hand but not with real force behind it.
Quite possibly the funniest/cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time was this past weekend when my visiting college roommate taught my 20mo old to “give her some dap.” Said baby was a little confused at first but caught on admirably.
My baby is cooler than I am.
