Gesture: Brisk, erect walk

Meaning: Confidence

Gesture: Standing with hands on hips

Meaning: Readiness, aggression

Gesture: Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly

Meaning: Boredom

Gesture: Sitting, legs apart

Meaning: Open, relaxed

Gesture: Arms crossed on chest

Meaning: Defensiveness

Gesture: Walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched

Meaning: Dejection

Gesture: Hand to cheek

Meaning: Evaluation, thinking

Gesture: Touching, slightly rubbing nose

Meaning: Rejection, doubt, lying

Gesture: Rubbing the eye

Meaning: Doubt, disbelief

Gesture: Hands clasped behind back

Meaning: Anger, frustration, apprehension

Gesture: Locked ankles

Meaning: Apprehension

Gesture: Head resting in hand, eyes downcast

Meaning: Boredom

Gesture: Rubbing hands

Meaning: Anticipation

Gesture: Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed

Meaning: Confidence, superiority

Gesture: Open palm

Meaning: Sincerity, openness, innocence

Gesture: Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed

Meaning: Negative evaluation

Gesture: Tapping or drumming fingers

Meaning: Impatience

Gesture: Steepling fingers

Meaning: Authoritative

Gesture: Patting/fondling hair

Meaning: Lack of self-confidence; insecurity

Gesture: Quickly tilted head

Meaning: Interest

Gesture: Stroking chin

Meaning: Trying to make a decision

Gesture: Looking down, face turned away

Meaning: Disbelief

Gesture: Biting nails

Meaning: Insecurity, nervousness

Gesture: Pulling or tugging at ear

Meaning: Indecision

Gesture: Prolonged tilted head

Meaning: Boredom

Source: SPARC

This list has 53 comments




1. 
   
   

   1. xdarkhorsex - November 8th, 2007 at 11:48 am

   
   

   I’ve heard it said that only 5% of communication is verbal, the rest is body language. how you present yourself says ALOT

   
   
2. 
   
   

   2. Juggz - November 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am

   
   

   Next list, Top 10 ways to beat a lie detecter?

   
   

   This list is going to have a few people paying more attention to what there doing.

   
   
3. 
   
   

   3. Kelsi - November 8th, 2007 at 11:57 am

   
   

   This list kind of sucks…I was hoping for a more in depth, comprehensive look at body language. Most of this is just BS you see in the movies to convey an emotion.

   
   
4. 
   
   

   4. evan - November 8th, 2007 at 11:58 am

   
   

   great list, i study body language quite a bit, helps me at the poker tables.

   
   

   Lesi, true enough, but you’d be surprised how often these “movie” type actions are done by people all the time.

   
   

   For exampe the lightly itching the nose one is one I see all the time while playing poker. If I have decent hand and someone bets and does that, its usually a sign theyre are either weak or purely bluffing so ill often call or even raise in that spot.

   
   
5. 
   
   

   5. RobS - November 8th, 2007 at 12:06 pm

   
   

   Gesture: Standing with knees together, hopping from one foot to the other.
   
   Meaning: Need to pee.

   
   
6. 
   
   

   6. DiscHuker - November 8th, 2007 at 12:13 pm

   
   

   gesture: one finger in nostril
   
   meaning: booger in nose

   
   
7. 
   
   

   7. dvhann - November 8th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

   
   

   evan: thanks for the poker tip! might help me actually win a game for once

   
   
8. 
   
   

   8. JMurf - November 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm

   
   

   Evan, try looking at the position of their elbow height relative to the table they were resting it on when they’re betting is another good tell. The nose is a common one, I’m crap at poker but i know a few tells, checking the flop and bettin the turn is another sign of a bluff

   
   
9. 
   
   

   9. jfrater - November 8th, 2007 at 1:18 pm

   
   

   Juggz: great idea - thanks - oh - and done

   
   
10. 
    
    

    10. Juggz - November 8th, 2007 at 2:29 pm

    
    

    haha, so i see

• 11. amanda - November 8th, 2007 at 3:12 pm

  
  

  JMurf is right about checking the flop. As soon as I read that I realized that I do it every time I bluff. Maybe now I’ll do it when I have a really good hand, too…

  
  
• 
  
  

  12. evan - November 8th, 2007 at 3:25 pm

  
  

  often that is the case but difinately not always the case. Often people with 1. monster hands (people with pocket or cards or low trips, etc), 2. draws, 3. medicore hands, or just 4. weak players will check the flop.
  
  and on the turn..

  
  

  1. Generally bets if the flop wasnt bet by anyone to get some money into the pot, or may check-raise someone if they bet on the turn.
  
  2. possibly made their draw on the turn, fairly easy to spot if the turn card would possibly make some kind of a draw.
  
  3. Say the have top pair but a weak kicker, they may check the flop to see how strong the other players appear, then bet the turn if they think they now have the best hand.
  
  4. Some people just dont get or dont realize how to play so they may be cautious and not bet the flop, but then bet on the turn.

  
  

  but yes often people will try to buy the pot on the turn, esecially if it a shorthanded game.

  
  
• 
  
  

  13. Fe - November 8th, 2007 at 5:44 pm

  
  

  Several of these I use when I’m teaching to decide whether or not the kids are yanking my chain. As a substitute, every day is ‘trick the sub’ day with long stories about what the teacher lets them do and stuff. Some of the kids get angry because I catch them more often than not.

  
  
• 
  
  

  14. Ravyn - November 8th, 2007 at 7:39 pm

  
  

  When I rub my hands together, it is not in anticipation. It is generally because I am cold and trying to warm up.

  
  
• 
  
  

  15. aplspud - November 8th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

  
  

  Pinching bridge of nose and eyes closed usually means an impending sinus headache for me lol. Body language is cool.

  
  
• 
  
  

  16. Soyane - November 9th, 2007 at 4:12 am

  
  

  Holla People,

  
  

  ë divertido, alguns desses gestos me identificam…é uma forma do organismo ou a pessoa se comunicar. Linguagem Corporal é mui COOL!

  
  

  Be Alone, hasta la vista

• 17. Shabab - November 9th, 2007 at 5:40 am

  
  

  oh come on…no middle finger???!!! its revolutionised the way we express anger….it says so much more than “hands clasped behind back” does….neways i guess it becoz of the whole “its a family site” thing….great list though

  
  
• 
  
  

  18. jfrater - November 9th, 2007 at 5:46 am

  
  

  Shabab: for a “family site” we have a lot of not very family friendly lists I have never promoted it as a family friendly site. Having said that, there is no porn. I left the finger off just because it is so commonly known

  
  
• 
  
  

  19. rp - November 9th, 2007 at 6:33 am

  
  

  The guy under 11-15 is about to make hand fart noises. Seriously, that’s precisely the way you hold your hands together to do it.

  
  
• 
  
  

  20. Kelsi - November 9th, 2007 at 6:44 am

  
  

  Haha, so rp maybe it should read:

  
  

  Gesture: Hands clasped in front, wiggling motion resulting in fart noises

  
  

  Meaning: This person is feeling silly

  
  
• 
  
  

  21. Mean - November 9th, 2007 at 8:26 am

  
  

  oh hey i think you missed:

  
  

  gesture: tilting the head sideways
  
  meaning: the person is clueless or just stupid

  
  
• 
  
  

  22. Sarah - November 11th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

  
  

  rp-
  
  lmao so true

  
  
• 
  
  

  23. nuka - November 21st, 2007 at 7:33 am

  
  

  thanks for the information about gestures!! it really helped me! i’m writing a presentation about body language

• 24. jfrater - November 21st, 2007 at 7:56 am

  
  

  nuka: you are welcome - I am pleased it was useful to you!

  
  
• 
  
  

  25. luckyaz - January 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

  
  

  what about if a female looks at you and she rubs her vagina? that means she’s horny

  
  
• 
  
  

  26. Cyn - January 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

  
  

  luckyaz - obviously something you got off a porn flic, eh? considering you’d never seen that in real life.

  
  
• 
  
  

• 28. Innerchild - March 6th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

  
  

  HELP!!!

  
  

  I was talking to a girl, and she had her left hand on her right shoulder and her right hand on left shoulder.

  
  

  What does this mean??

  
  
• 
  
  

  29. Angelina - March 6th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

  
  

  Innerchild: I think she wanted to do the hokey-pokey. . . that’s what it’s all about. . . or maybe the Macarena???

  
  
• 
  
  

  30. Innerchild - March 6th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

  
  

  Thanks Angelina!!!

  
  

  Seriously though, you’re a woman, cross your arms and place your hands on the opposite shoulder (making an ‘X’ shape with your arms on your chest).

  
  

  What is that communicating?

  
  
• 
  
  

  31. Angelina - March 6th, 2008 at 6:54 pm

  
  

  Innerchild: Dude, I’m sorry! No touchie the boobies!

  
  

  Or maybe she didn’t shave her underarms and was self-concious?? Maybe???

  
  
• 
  
  

  32. Diogenes - March 30th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

  
  

  25 more reasons why I should master the art of contortionism.
  
  I have the problem of walking around with my hands cupped over my genitals.
  
  I dont know the meaning, but it suits me.
  
  but still
  
  Contort you damn fool! I say.

  
  
• 
  
  

  33. Sambhav - April 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm

  
  

  Things are really not like that. The man who convey this article is not aware with the actualities of life. Bye n thanks

  
  
• 
  
  

  34. Summer - May 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 am

  
  

  Could you give more details on open palm, thank you.

  
  
• 
  
  

  35. anna - May 12th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

  
  

  this list is so good.thanks for having it up here!

  
  
• 
  
  

  36. cbp - June 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 am

  
  

  Cheers, helped me on my workplace assessment of body language.

• 37. gautam - June 13th, 2008 at 5:10 am

  
  

  its good

  
  
• 
  
  

  38. queen nei - June 13th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

  
  

  thanks guys. this really helped me out on an assessment i had about body language and some of those comments made me chuckle!

  
  
• 
  
  

  39. Vera Lynn - June 19th, 2008 at 8:51 pm

  
  

  I work with a woman who CONSTANTLY tucks her hair behind her ears when she is in an uncomfortable situation. It makes me bloody crazy!!

  
  
• 
  
  

  40. Saurabh - July 7th, 2008 at 6:58 pm

  
  

  Really good…
  
  Good job…

  
  
• 
  
  

  41. hetal jain - September 13th, 2008 at 3:36 am

  
  

  it really helped me for my presentations on body language

  
  
• 
  
  

  42. Noushad ponmala - September 16th, 2008 at 3:34 am

  
  

  Excellent! it is very good. i wondering !
  
  i become a hero among my friends

  
  
• 
  
  

  43. xdr - September 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am

  
  

  This is the biggest crap ever! Have you ever rubbed your hands? Otherwise but to keep them warm?? Nobody does those things it’s like one of those stereotypes (villan rubbing his hands and grinning, evily!)

  
  
• 
  
  

  44. BeatlesFan80 - September 24th, 2008 at 6:24 am

  
  

  xdr, these gestures are done without the person conciously aware of doing them.

  
  

  jfrater, thank you for this list. I’m also writing a college paper on gestures.

  
  
• 
  
  

  45. Jessy - October 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

  
  

  Gesture: Tapping or drumming fingers
  
  Meaning: Impatience.

  
  

  While that may be true, I knew a two drummers who CONTSTANTLY did this. Or maybe they were both really impatient…

  
  
• 
  
  

  46. orkideh - October 29th, 2008 at 6:47 am

  
  

  hi.i’m from iran i like your site.i can learn many thing thanks

  
  
• 
  
  

  47. nenny - November 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

  
  

  Wow, I noticed I do a lot of these things and I actualy see that they are true, now I’m noticing other people. I actualy like this site. YAY!

  
  
• 
  
  

• 48. Marmiteboy - November 28th, 2008 at 1:58 am

  
  

  I am dismayed to find no reference to how disability can affect body language and its interpretation. If you have a physical impairment for example many of the body language types above may not be able to be performed. A disabled person may not display the same emotions by way of body language in the same way as non-disabled people. For example a visually impaired person may not pick up on body language at all or a person on the autistic spectrum will display what may be interpreted as a certain type of behaviour within the ‘rules’ stated above when that is not the message being portrayed (for example many people on the spectrum are uncomfortable with eye contact but it need not be interpreted as being evasive).

  
  

  Body language is not an exact science and how disability might affect body language or how we might react to the body language of disabled people is often completely forgotten.

  
  
• 
  
  

  49. tony - November 28th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

  
  

  well, it is not all that bad.but it is a kind of what i have been looking for.

  
  
• 
  
  

  50. archs - January 26th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

  
  

  i’d just like to point out that body language sometimes differs to people who are psychologically different from the normal human psyche.

  
  

  Great list though!

  
  
• 
  
  

  51. nerrooo - February 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm

  
  

  Shabab i totally agree with you, the middle finger should’ve been in this!
  
  thank god my mother doesn’t know what it means or i would’ve been yelled at a few times cause me and my sister and brother always flip off each other

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