Saturday, September 01, 2012

Universal signs

It's amazing what you can get by on when you don't speak the language...

Beats me: shrug
Onion: make a chopping gesture and then rub your eyes like a baby crying
Time: tap your wrist
Girl's Pee: squat down and make a peeing noise... note that it takes longer for men to understand this than women
Money: rub your fingers together on one hand
Lighter: pretend there's a lighter in your hand and light it.
Sleep: head tilt to either side with both hands in prayer position under your ear.
Eat: pretend there is a sock puppet on one hand and put it to your lips and give yourself some kisses.
Drink/alcoholic: the old head tilt back with hand wrapped around imaginary container.
OK: thumb's up.
Cold: put each hand on the opposite arm and rub.
Hot: fan your face with your hand as if you are southern.
No: shake head side to side
NO: shake head side to side vigorously, widen eyes and firmly move hands in a horizontal motion from the center of your body outward
Yes: move head up and down
YES: move head up and down, put a big goofy grin on your face and clap your hands like a giddy schoolgirl.
I don't understand: really any contorted look of confusion, especially with one or both corners of the mouth downturned. Oftentimes followed by "English?"
Drive/driver: pretend you hands are at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on a steering wheel and rotate it back and forth.

1 comment:

JeffM said...

How fortunate that none of those are obscene!