Russian · Hand Gestures · hand gesture
Крутить у виска
krutit' u viska
You're crazy / are you nuts?
2/5 Bar-safe
coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances
The gesture
"Twisting a finger at your temple"
What your hand is actually doing.
How to use it
Twist an index finger at your temple to call someone insane — the same gesture as in much of the world. Mildly insulting, often half-joking between friends, but pointed at a stranger it's a clear "you idiot / you're out of your mind." Pairs with "ty chto, s uma soshyol?"
Heard in the wild
Я предложил, а он покрутил у виска.
I suggested it and he twirled his finger at his temple.
Where it lands
Russia (universal)
Quick answers
- What does "Крутить у виска" mean?
- In Russian, "Крутить у виска" means "You're crazy / are you nuts?". Literally it's "Twisting a finger at your temple". Twist an index finger at your temple to call someone insane — the same gesture as in much of the world. Mildly insulting, often half-joking between friends, but pointed at a stranger it's a clear "you idiot / you're out of your mind." Pairs with "ty chto, s uma soshyol?"
- Is "Крутить у виска" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
- How do you pronounce "Крутить у виска"?
- This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. Twisting a finger at your temple.
Related in Russian
Иди в баню! idi v banyu ee-DEE v BAH-nyoo Get lost! / Buzz off! (gentle) Понты ponty pahn-TIH Show-off posturing / all flash, no substance Дурак! durak doo-RAHK Idiot / fool Придурок! pridurok pree-DOO-rahk Moron / dumbass Заткнись! zatknis' zaht-KNEES Shut up! / Shut it! Трус! trus TROOS Coward / chicken
The same idea, elsewhere
Via concepts like "That's crazy".
- French C'est ouf ! That's insane! / Crazy! (good or bad)
- German einen Vogel zeigen You've got a screw loose / you're insane
- Greek τρελάθηκες; Are you crazy?! / Have you lost your mind?
- Japanese やばい Insane / crazy / no way — good OR bad, from context
- Korean 미친 Crazy — from 'that's insane(ly good)!' to 'you lunatic' to a genuine slur on someone's sanity.
- Polish masakra A disaster / unbelievable / total carnage — the all-purpose 'this is insane.'
- Portuguese Sinistro Sick! / Insane! (both awesome and scary)
- Turkish Deli oluyorum! I'm losing my mind / this is driving me crazy
Reviewed by native speakers. Rate it differently? Tell us what we got wrong.