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French · 5 phrases

Hand Gestures

The non-verbal ones that get you in trouble. The "bras d'honneur" (forearm jerk) is France's answer to the middle finger and twice as emphatic; "mon œil" (tug under the eye) is a harmless "yeah, right." Know them so you can read them — and so you don't fire one off by accident.

Il est fou (se visser la tempe) gesture He's crazy / a screw loose Mon œil gesture My eye! / Yeah, right! / I don't believe you Avoir les boules gesture To be fed up / furious / freaked out (gesture + phrase) Le doigt d'honneur gesture The finger / flipping the bird Le bras d'honneur gesture Up yours! — the forearm jerk (the big French one)