# What is the meaning of this hand gesture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2007, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961 "2007-08-09T03:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/1 "2007-08-09T03:57:47Z")
[From Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_gesture), it is known as **Bang bang or pistols**. The picture shows the hand in the shape of a gun. You’re at a parade where you see the parade marshall and guests waving to the crowd. You’re looking at one of the persons waving. As they are waving, their hand turns into a gun; midwave they lower their middle, ring, and pinkie fingers together and then they re-extend their fingers and resume waving. So the marshall of the parade is waving and make this gun sign, almost like a wink. What does it mean? Have you ever seen any celebrities, politicans, hosts make this specific gesture? Is it regional? ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/2 "2007-08-09T04:03:21Z")
When I was a kid, it was used exclusively for ‘Cops & Robbers’ among the neighborhood children. I’ve seen it used on television shows like a wink or a “you got it” to a correct answer…I can picture a gameshow host doing this, but I can’t remember who. Maybe Richard Dawson? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/3 "2007-08-09T04:15:46Z")
I know the gesture you mean and it I always associate it with the height of cheeziness. In recent years I also associate it with Lyddie England and Abu Ghraib. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/4 "2007-08-09T04:29:58Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] I know the gesture you mean and it I always associate it with the height of cheeziness. In recent years I also associate it with Lyddie England and Abu Ghraib. [/QUOTE] You mean when it’s accompanied by a toothy grin, wink and a man in a leisure suit? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/5 "2007-08-09T04:41:11Z")
[QUOTE=Kozmik] [From Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_gesture), it is known as **Bang bang or pistols**. The picture shows the hand in the shape of a gun. [/QUOTE] you mean like [this](http://www.superherostuff.com/bush_sucks_tshirts/images/buddy_jesus.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/6 "2007-08-09T04:45:53Z")
Ask Travis Bickle. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/7 "2007-08-09T05:03:21Z")
Think more subtle. It’s like a wink. If you notice it, you can’t believe your eyes. One minute they are waving and in a split second they make this hand gesture, and then continue waving. What does it mean if a politican does this? It’s not quite the v-sign and it’s not exactly the finger. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/8 "2007-08-09T05:15:08Z")
Gotcha ya! ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/9 "2007-08-09T06:15:59Z")
I’m a little surprised this is in GQ. If it were in the Pit, I would understand, but to give you a factual answer: this is a hand-sign in order to pick a particular person out of a crowd in order to signify that their general wave of good cheer is particularly directed towards one or another of the vast throngs. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/10 "2007-08-09T10:17:57Z")
It means, roughly: “Hey everybody, hi, hello, how are you all, and– _Steve, good to see you, thanks for the campaign contribution and making that little hooker problem go away!_ –and hey everybody, thanks, yes, I’m wonderful and so are you…” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/11 "2007-08-09T11:27:24Z")
[QUOTE=Manduck] Gotcha ya! [/QUOTE] This is more to what I think it means. The trigger shot gesture has a little more spunk to it than a wink. When I picture it, it roughly says: “here we go” It says this with a knowing smile. So what I’m wondering is how to interpret this gesture, beign or nefarious. Again, it’s not quite the v-sign and it’s not exactly the finger. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/12 "2007-08-09T15:04:39Z")
It means roughly something like “I am a warm, friendly, caring guy, I acknowledge your presence here before me, and you are A-okay in my book, dude.” And if you look at the pic of Cool Jesus linked to by **Peter Morris** , that’s exactly the message you’ll get. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-of-this-hand-gesture/414961/13 "2007-08-10T01:50:48Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] And if you look at the pic of Cool Jesus linked to by **Peter Morris** , that’s exactly the message you’ll get. [/QUOTE] That’s “Buddy Christ” from the “Catholocism WOW!” campaign to revitalize the Catholic Church! Write to Cardinal Glick for more info.