Russian · Hand Gestures · hand gesture
Щелчок по горлу
shchelchok po gorlu
Let's drink / he's drunk / booze
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
The gesture
"A flick of the finger against the side of the neck"
What your hand is actually doing.
How to use it
Flick a finger against the side of your neck: the universal Russian sign for drinking. It can invite ("fancy a drink?"), report ("he's plastered"), or gossip ("he's got a problem"). Legend ties it to a Tsar's tattoo granting free tavern drinks. Friendly and informal, not offensive — just unmistakably about vodka.
Heard in the wild
Он показал на горло — мол, пойдём накатим.
He flicked his neck — like, let's go grab a drink.
Where it lands
Russia (universal); iconic
Quick answers
- What does "Щелчок по горлу" mean?
- In Russian, "Щелчок по горлу" means "Let's drink / he's drunk / booze". Literally it's "A flick of the finger against the side of the neck". Flick a finger against the side of your neck: the universal Russian sign for drinking. It can invite ("fancy a drink?"), report ("he's plastered"), or gossip ("he's got a problem"). Legend ties it to a Tsar's tattoo granting free tavern drinks. Friendly and informal, not offensive — just unmistakably about vodka.
- Is "Щелчок по горлу" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "Щелчок по горлу"?
- This one's a hand gesture — there's nothing to pronounce. A flick of the finger against the side of the neck.
Related in Russian
Наливай! nalivay nah-lee-VYE Fill 'em up! / Pour the drinks! За здоровье! za zdorov'e zah zdah-ROH-vye Cheers! / To your health! На посошок! na pososhok nah pah-sah-SHOK One for the road! Бухать bukhat' boo-KHAHT To drink (heavily) / to get wasted В стельку v stel'ku f STYEL-koo Blind drunk / hammered / plastered Давай-давай! davai-davai dah-VYE dah-VYE Come on! Let's go! Push!
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