talk to the hand

slang expression

Originating in the 1990s U.S. pop culture, "talk to the hand" is a dismissive phrase signaling disinterest or annoyance, often with a hand gesture.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2Informal Communication

(slang, colloquial)A phrase used to show that one is not interested in listening to what someone else is saying, typically accompanied by a hand gesture with the palm facing outward.

Example

When he started complaining, she just said, 'Talk to the hand,' and walked away.
If you're going to be rude, talk to the hand.

B2Popular Culture

(humorous, ironic)An idiom expressing disinterest or dismissal, popularized by TV shows and movies in the 1990s.

Example

The character in the sitcom used 'talk to the hand' to shut down unwanted conversations.
'Talk to the hand' became a catchphrase in many comedy sketches during the 90s.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "talk to the hand":

tell it to the hand give the finger throw hands shake hands raise one's hand talk to wave off flip the bird put one's hand up back of one's hand talk at hand it to extend one's hand hands up wave away