Dictionary of Gestures

An illustrated guide to more than 850 gestures and their meanings around the world, from a nod of the head to a click of the heels. Gestures convey meaning with a flourish. A vigorous nod of the head, a bold jut of the chin, an enthusiastic thumbs-up—each can speak louder than words. Yet, the same gesture may have different meanings in various parts of the world. What Americans understand as the "A-OK gesture," for example, serves as an obscene insult in the Arab world.

Dictionary of Gestures is the reference book we didn't know we needed—an illustrated dictionary of 850 gestures and their meanings around the globe. It catalogues voluntary gestures made to communicate openly, distinguishing them from sign language, dance moves, involuntary "tells," or secret handshakes, and explains the gesture’s significance in a variety of locations. This collection is organised by body part, from top to bottom, from head (nodding, shaking, turning) to foot (scraping, kicking, playing footsie).

We learn that "to oscillate the head while gently throwing it back" communicates approval in some countries, even though it resembles the head shake of disapproval used in other regions; that "to tap a slightly inflated cheek" can constitute an erotic invitation when accompanied by a wink; and that the middle finger, pointed in the air, signifies approval in South America. We may already know it is a grave insult in the Middle East and Asia to display the sole of one's shoe, but perhaps not that motorcyclists sometimes greet each other by raising a foot.

Illustrated with clever line drawings and documented with quotations from literature, Dictionary of Gestures offers readers unique insights into polylingual meaning. The author, François Caradec, was a distinguished and prolific historian of literature, culture, and humorous oddities, as well as a novelist and poet. This dictionary allows readers to explore the nuanced and varied expressions of gestures around the world.