Italian Fist

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Italian Fist
Silvia Marchetti, for CNN • Published 29th May 2015
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(CNN) — We Italians like to say that a gesture is more valuable than a thousand words.
Surprisingly, we don't actually have a gesture that says that, but we do for almost everything else.
When it comes to body language, we simply rule.
As we talk, our hands fly in the air making unmistakable signs, our faces twist into funny expressions.
These make up a dictionary all of their own, albeit one that's frequently rude and, for reasons that aren't entirely clear, slightly obsessed with testicles.
For outsiders, this can be as tricky to negotiate as Rome's rush hour.
To help, we've compiled a guide to some of the most popular expressions.
Also check out our video compendium.
But be warned: using the wrong gesture to the wrong person can have serious repercussions.
Horns play almost as big a part in Italian sign language as testicles.
They're made with either or both hands.
The middle and ring fingers are clenched while the thumb, index and and little fingers are extended.
Often they're used as a superstitious gesture -- the devil's horns are said to drive away curses or bad luck.
A single horned hand can be used to indicate someone is a cuckold, or more simply, a bastard.
It's OK to use this when stuck in traffic.
Ma che stai a dì/ma che vuoi? ("What the hell are you saying?")
When people portray Italian stereotypes, they often use this gesture.
For this one, the fingertips of either hand are brought together, upright while the hand is waved up and down.
It can be used to ask "what the hell are you saying?" or "what the heck do you want?"
Italians frequently use it in conversation.
Even when they're on the phone or talking to themselves.
It's often an involuntary gesture -- something we can't help doing, like blinking or producing the world's best gelato.
'Ntze (No direct translation, but means "no")
'Ntze: Looks like a yes. Actually means no.
Easy to get confused by this topsy-turvy one: it looks like a yes, but it's actually a no.
It involves what is essentially a reverse nod -- a single backwards whip of the head, accompanied by a "ntze" sound.
It's a popular gesture in Italy's deep south.
It's best avoided when talking to strangers and by anyone suffering from a stiff neck.
The subtlety of this gesture often confuses non-Italians who fail to grasp its unsubtle meaning.
It usually involves an outstretched arm that is chopped up and down, often accompanied by a sweetly smiling face.
Despite the mixed signals, the message is unequivocal: "Get lost."
Actually, that's the polite translation.
It's commonly used, so once anyone has mastered the irony of the gesture, they should feel free to to deploy it at will.
But be warned, it can turn nasty -- usually signified when the swinging arm looks as if it's about to turn into a slap.
Ti faccio un coso così ("I'll make yours this big")
This is where the insults start drifting below the belt.
Here, hands are held out at waist level, several inches apart.
Thumbs are stuck out and index fingers used to indicate either side of the gap between them.
The literal meaning here is: "I'll kick you so hard your buttocks will end up this far apart."
It's a fairly aggressive threat, so it's probably best to seek butt-saving solutions -- run if necessary.
It can be deployed jokingly to warn a friend that they're overreacting -- but mothers and potential girlfriends, especially those with burly older brothers, are considered strictly out of bounds.
While this gesture involves a forearm held horizontally against the stomach, it's neither a gesture of hunger or an invitation to lunch.
It simply means: "I can't stand you."
Don't say you weren't warned: this one involves genitals.
The gesture involves using the left hand to mimic scratching a left testicle.
Italian men do this anytime, anywhere -- but it doesn't necessarily mean they're feeling itchy.
In Italy, scratching down there is believed to keep evil spirits away and is done whenever a vaguely sinister event transpires.
A hearse drives by: time to scratch.
A black cat crosses the path: time to scratch.
Get the tests back from the clinic: time to scratch, then maybe apply some ointment.
There's an equivalent for women -- touching the left breast with the right hand.
'Ntaccatu (Sicilian dialect, means something like "smart move")
Not all Italian hand gestures have negative connotations.
This one resembles the "horns," but the thumb is rested gently against the cheek, the index finger remains clenched and the little finger points outwards.
If an Italian does this to someone, they're expressing approval.
Basta/Uffa che palle ("Enough/My balls are getting this big...")
Another Italian classic -- so, inevitably, it involves genitals.
Here the hands are held loosely in front of the body and shaken from the wrists.
Optionally, the arms can be crossed.
It means "enough," or "I've had it," or "gimme a break" and symbolizes an imminent testicle explosion.
Italians use it dozens of times a day, just to stress a point.
Visitors can try it when they're exasperated, but shouldn't overdo it, otherwise they risk looking clumsy and even more obsessed by testicles than Italians.
Another familiar gesture to students of Italian sign language, this supposedly mimics the act of hanging an umbrella on a hook.
One arm, with a clenched fist, is brought high across the chest while the other hand slaps the crook of the raised elbow.
It works on a sliding scale of offensiveness depending on the circumstance.
At best it's a "nice" way to tell people to go to hell if they ask for huge favors, like borrowing money, drinks or lengthy explanations of Italian sign language.
Again, it's not one to deploy on senior relatives, or to people genuinely deserving assistance.
Knocking the air is a proposition for sex.
There are a couple of gestures for women to be wary of when encountering macho Italian men.
As you'd expect from all the testicle scratching, Italians aren't shy about the facts of life and so it's not uncommon for men to come right out and say it, albeit in sign language.
If they hold their fist aloft and appear to knock the air, they're asking for a one-night stand.
If they place their index fingers together, pointing toward you, they're just asking you out.
In either case, whether it's a "yes" or "no," it's best to be just as up front in response.
This is clearly a warning gesture, deployed by placing an index finger below an eye, tilting the head and glowering.
It says: "Beware, I'm watching you every step you take and I'm not stupid."
There are Mafia overtones and it can be quite alarming when witnessed for the first time.
To be used carefully, particularly in Sicily.
For this gesture, teeth are chomped into a hand held horizontally at head height. The bitten hand is then used to make a chopping gesture in the air.
This might look as though it indicates hunger, but in fact sends a message of impending punishment.
It stands for: "If I catch you you're in deep trouble, I'll hurt you."
Mothers use it with restless kids making too much noise.
It's also sometimes used by men eyeing up women they'd like to get their hands on, if only they could stop biting those hands.
Non me va/non me frega ("Couldn't care less")
Italians get pretty heated up when they quarrel.
This gesture reins them in to make a decisive point.
The fingertips of one hand are placed under the chin pointing toward the neck, then swiftly flicked outward towards the person being argued with.
It means that they're not willing to do something, or they simply couldn't care less.
Ma guarda questo ("Take a look at him/her")
Ma guarda questo: Take a look at him.
An outstretched hand might seem like a friendly gesture.
The arm is stuck out in front and the palm rotated upward, while the face takes on a look of righteous indignation.
This is used to criticize and ridicule someone's actions, words or appearance.
As in: "If this person thinks they've mastered Italian sign language, they're clearly a fool."
Silvia Marchetti is a Rome-based freelance reporter. She writes about finance, economics, travel and culture for a wide range of media including MNI News, Newsweek and The Guardian. Gaetano Virgallito is a Rome-based photographer and videographer who hails from Basilicata in Italy's "deep south."
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to shake one’s fist (at sb) minacciare (qn) con il pugno
Copyright © by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
Example sentences from the Collins Corpus
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life ( 1994 )
Example sentences from Collins dictionaries
Larry rose excitedly to the edge of his seat, shook a fist at us and spat.
Lucy banged on the table with her fist.
Mahoney clenched his fist in exasperation.
My son had a tantrum and banged his fist on the ground.
Sarah made a gesture with her fist.
Sarah made a menacing gesture with her fist.
She drew back her fist and cracked him on the jaw.
She made a menacing gesture with her fist.
She shook her fist. 'I'll show you,' she said.
You refer to someone's hand as their fist when they have bent their fingers towards their palm.

Translation of fist from the Collins English to Italian

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Italians often use hand gestures as an alternative form of communication. Hand gestures form an important part of Italian communication and, in particular, are vital to understanding colloquial Italian and Italian idiom.
Italians often use hand gestures as an alternative form of communication. There are about 250 of these gestures , which can get rather confusing for Italian language learners, so, in this article we have tried to simplify things so that you can learn a 11 of the most essential Italian hand gestures.
These hand gestures developed as a means of communication after the fall of the Roman Empire when Italy experienced an influx of peoples (the Carolingans, Normans, Visigoths, Arabs, Germans, French and Austrians) who couldn't speak a common language, and have stuck around ever since. They form an important part of Italian communication and, in particular, are vital to understanding colloquial Italian and Italian idiom and Italian Vocabulary . Moreover, they give us an important insight into Italian culture (which is very useful if you want to travel to Italy ).
These first four gestures are ones that are neither particularly rude, nor have hidden meanings.
The " finger purse " is the most well known Italian hand gesture, so well known that it has its own emoji:
Italian uses it as a general exclamation of annoyance, exasperation or confusion and can mean Ma che vuoi? ("But what do you want?"), Ma che fai? ("But what are you doing?"), Ma che dici? ("But what are you saying?") and express questions in general (i.e. dove , "where", chi , "who", perché , "why").
You can perform it by pressing the thumb against the other fingers and holding the hand upwards.
Italians, especially children, use the buono gesture to say that a meal is delicious, buono . You can use the gesture in restaurants (except in very fancy ones).
You do the buono gesture by poking your index finger into your cheek.
The perfetto , "perfect", gesture shows you think something's perfect.
You can do it by putting your index finger and thumb together and drawing an imaginary line in the air, as if you are pulling closed a zip.
The basta gesture means basta! , "enough!"
You do it by crossing and uncrossing your arms on a flat plane level with your chest.
Many Italian hand gestures, including these seven, are simply the equivalent of swearing or giving the finger, involve jokes around genitalia, or are rude or offensive in some other way. It goes without saying that these shouldn't be used in more formal situations.
There is a ruder way of saying basta ("enough"), which is this gesture meaning Uffa che palle! , "Uggh, my balls!". It implies that the other person has gone on so long that your testicles are about to explode.
To form it, you hold your hands apart as if you are holding two very heavy balls.
The chin flick means Non me frega! , "I don't care" or "I don't give a damn".
You can do this by flicking the fingers out from under the chin.
The ombrello ("umbrella") gesture is one way of saying "f-ck off", "get lost", or in Italian, vaffunculo .
You can perform it by "making an umbrella" by making a fist with one arm, and slapping the upper arm with the other hand.
Another way of saying f-ck off is this gesture which implies that you will kick the other person so hard, their buttocks will end up as far apart as your hands. The accompanying phrase is Ti faccio un coso così! , "I'll make your ass this big!" (literally: "I'll make you a thing like this").
You can perform this gesture by putting your hands about hip-width apart and opening up your thumb and index finger, to show just how far apart your addressees buttocks will be once you are finished with them.
The eyelid pull (also known as occhio , "eye") means stai attento , "be careful", "watch out" or even "I'm watching you (so don't try anything)".
To do it, you put your index finger below your eye, pull the eyelid down a little, tilt your head and glare at the other person. It is not to be confused with a similar gesture used with a smiling expression which means "you think you're smart" or (unsarcastically) "you're smart".
Be careful doing this one in Sicily as it has Mafia overtones.
The hand biting gesture means "when I catch you, I'll kill you" (or, in the Sicilian dialect, si t'anacagliu ), and can be used in a variety of ways: from fed up mothers to their children, but also from men to women they are pursuing.
You do it by biting your hand as if it's a sandwhich, usually with the palm open.
The horns gesture, the mano cornuta , is not just a gesture but a wider part of Italian culture. Italians fare le corna (literally, "to make the horns") to ward off the evil eye, the malocchio , in situations involving bad luck (or the potential for it), or someone insulting your friends or family.
You can forms the horns gesture , by raising the index and pinky finger with the rest of the hand formed into the fist, with the hand pointed downwards.
Make sure the hand points downwards, because pointing the hand upwards or towards someone has a completely different meaning: it invokes the evil eye or implies that the other person's partner is cheating on them (the corna also symbolises the horns ( cornuti ) of a cuckhold). However, the gesture can also be used in traffic jams and simply to tell someone to f-ck off.
You can also find the horns gesture as a lucky charm, usually made out of gold, silver, or blood coral because of their supposed magic properties.
A cruder way of warding off the evil eye is grabbing the testicles (for men) or the breast for women which stems from the association with the evil eye with infertility. Though this version is used, Italians do consider it a bit coarse.
Italian hand gestures are very useful for Italian language learners to know and if you can manage to learn just a few essential Italian gestures, such as those in this article, you will improve your ability to converse with Italians and travel in Italy. You might also learn a thing or two about Italian culture.
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