The "two-finger salute" (V-sign) has varied meanings: it can signify peace, victory, or solidarity (especially with palm out, like in photos); be a sign of defiance or disrespect (back of hand towards recipient, often in UK/Commonwealth); a gesture of camaraderie among drivers/bikers (two fingers from wheel); or a specific Polish military salute for honouring the nation with the palm in. Its meaning depends heavily on context, hand orientation (palm facing in or out), and cultural background.
With the palm of the hand facing inward toward the signer (i.e. with the back of the hand facing the observer), this is seen as an insulting gesture in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, akin to giving the finger.
The origin of the peace sign
The contemporary V-sign — two fingers, palm toward the viewer — originated during World War II as a symbol of victory over Nazism (the V-sign with the palm oriented toward the signer is an older, ruder gesture, whose origins are unclear).
The gesture was devised by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy as a salute for the alien Vulcan species, and is popular within the science fiction fandom and nerd culture. The blessing phrase "live long and prosper" (written by Theodore Sturgeon) is frequently spoken alongside it.
Live long and prosper, friends! If you ever need to spread the love to your geekier friends, then flash a 🖖. The Vulcan salute emoji, 🖖, is perfect for showing your Star Trek cred or sci-fi pride more generally.
🤟 (Love-You Hand) Emoji
The Love-You hand emoji is often confused with the 🤘 emoji, which is often used to say “Rock on!” You can tell these two emojis apart because the love emoji has the thumb pointing outward in the shape of the letter “L” as in “love.” Example Text: “Plane's about to take off! Love you!! 🤟”
👉👈 : (Point Right + Point Left) – Feeling nervous or shy.
Poles salute with two fingers (index and middle) in memory of the heroic soldier who, during the uprisings or Napoleonic Wars, despite losing two fingers to shrapnel, saluted his commander with his bleeding hand, which became a symbol of sacrifice, honor, and homeland (the legend associated with Tadeusz Kościuszko or ...
The story goes that it was an English soldier's way of taunting the French during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Supposedly, English longbowmen would put their two fingers up to show they hadn't been captured by the French and had those fingers removed, rendering them unable to shoot arrows.
Taken from American Sign Language, this simply means "I love you." Peace ... Sideways. It's sideways, but it means the same thing as the traditional peace sign. The sign itself is pretty meaningless; kids just call it "this." The game is to try to get people to look at "this," at which point you make fun of them.
Officers always saluted with the right hand (as the left, in theory, would always be required to hold the scabbard of their sword).
What's the Devil Horn Hand Sign? The sign of the Horned Hand is a typical Italian gesture where the index and pinky fingers are raised (while the other three fingers are kept low) to symbolize a pair of horns that would drive away bad luck and the malevolent eye of fate.
Predominantly known today as the ✌️ Peace Sign, this gesture was originally called the Victory Hand or V Sign due to its association with the Allies' victory in World War II. Commonly used to express peace, positivity, or goodwill, and frequently appears in posed photographs.
Double Pointer Fingers
Popular with Gen Z, this hand sign is used to express that someone is too shy to say what they're thinking or they're working up the nerve to be honest about their feelings.
The new drill of the British Grenadiers in 1727 is the true origin of the somewhat unnatural palm-out hand salute. Running parallel with the debate around the removal of the soldier's hat, was the introduction of a salute for soldiers wearing grenadier, drummer, or light infantry caps.
Hands in pockets is considered disrespectful and rude. It is also bad etiquette to sit with one ankle resting on the other knee. The accepted greeting is a firm handshake, the same applies to farewells. Kissing and hugging is generally only acceptable if you are family or a very good friend.
What does 🌶️ mean? 🌶️ indicates “spiciness,” i.e., inappropriate or risqué content. Emojis like this are often used for sexting. For more information on the meaning of emojis, check out our emoji slang guide.
The 👁️👄👁️ emoji from a girl usually means she's speechless, surprised, or witnessing something awkward, funny, or unbelievable, expressing a "can't believe this" vibe, often with resignation like "it is what it is," or sometimes a slightly judgmental "wow, okay" without being overtly mean, just observing. It's versatile for awkward situations, shocking truths, or when something is so wild you don't know what to say.
Here are some common interpretations: Playfulness or Flirtation: The cherry emoji is often used in a playful or flirty manner, suggesting attraction or a lighthearted vibe. Sweetness: Cherries are sweet fruits, so the emoji can symbolize something sweet or cute, possibly indicating affection.
The sequence "🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥" means someone is enthusiastically talking about something amazing, excellent, or "lit," using the speaking heads to show they're voicing strong opinions and the fire emojis to emphasize how impressive, attractive, or exciting it is. It conveys intense approval or passion about a topic being discussed.
Both can have romantic vibes, but 😘 is a sweet emoji you can easily send a parent or friend. 💋 is more often used in steamy, sensual messages—although you can still give it a platonic or sassy context. Overall, both emojis can be used interchangeably or together to say "kiss" without fully writing the word.
The Raised Fist emoji ✊ depicts a raised right hand clenched into a fist, displayed outwards as if raised into the air. The emoji is commonly used to express solidarity with historically oppressed groups or people and social causes.