What does “talk to the hand” mean?
I saw the phrase "talk to the hand" on many funny stickers which seems like expressing the idea that you want to stop the topic or conversation which you feel uncomfortable or not interested in.
But I'm curious about what do English native speakers think about this saying? Is this offensive or impolite? Could the phrase be used with person I'm not very familiar with?
meaning phrases politeness offensive-language connotation
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
add a comment |
I saw the phrase "talk to the hand" on many funny stickers which seems like expressing the idea that you want to stop the topic or conversation which you feel uncomfortable or not interested in.
But I'm curious about what do English native speakers think about this saying? Is this offensive or impolite? Could the phrase be used with person I'm not very familiar with?
meaning phrases politeness offensive-language connotation
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
add a comment |
I saw the phrase "talk to the hand" on many funny stickers which seems like expressing the idea that you want to stop the topic or conversation which you feel uncomfortable or not interested in.
But I'm curious about what do English native speakers think about this saying? Is this offensive or impolite? Could the phrase be used with person I'm not very familiar with?
meaning phrases politeness offensive-language connotation
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
I saw the phrase "talk to the hand" on many funny stickers which seems like expressing the idea that you want to stop the topic or conversation which you feel uncomfortable or not interested in.
But I'm curious about what do English native speakers think about this saying? Is this offensive or impolite? Could the phrase be used with person I'm not very familiar with?
meaning phrases politeness offensive-language connotation
meaning phrases politeness offensive-language connotation
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
edited Dec 18 '14 at 12:17
RegDwigнt♦
82.6k31281377
82.6k31281377
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
asked Dec 18 '14 at 9:26
Knight-O
26114
26114
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Talk to the hand ['cos the face ain't listening] stems from black English in the 1990s, often borrowed by the younger white generation as many urban sayings are.
To answer the question directly, it is offensive and impolite in any circumstances, albeit mildly so.
More information of interest here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1453_uptodate3/page19.shtml
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
add a comment |
It means that the person saying it is not listening so you may as well talk to their hand.
It's often extended to something like "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face ain't listening".
I believe an image will help here:
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
add a comment |
There is a wikipedia article on talk to the hand:
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language
slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated as a
contemptuous way of saying one does not want to hear what the person
who is speaking is saying.
A well known example would be this scene from Terminator 3.
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Talk to the hand ['cos the face ain't listening] stems from black English in the 1990s, often borrowed by the younger white generation as many urban sayings are.
To answer the question directly, it is offensive and impolite in any circumstances, albeit mildly so.
More information of interest here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1453_uptodate3/page19.shtml
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
add a comment |
Talk to the hand ['cos the face ain't listening] stems from black English in the 1990s, often borrowed by the younger white generation as many urban sayings are.
To answer the question directly, it is offensive and impolite in any circumstances, albeit mildly so.
More information of interest here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1453_uptodate3/page19.shtml
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
add a comment |
Talk to the hand ['cos the face ain't listening] stems from black English in the 1990s, often borrowed by the younger white generation as many urban sayings are.
To answer the question directly, it is offensive and impolite in any circumstances, albeit mildly so.
More information of interest here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1453_uptodate3/page19.shtml
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
Talk to the hand ['cos the face ain't listening] stems from black English in the 1990s, often borrowed by the younger white generation as many urban sayings are.
To answer the question directly, it is offensive and impolite in any circumstances, albeit mildly so.
More information of interest here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1453_uptodate3/page19.shtml
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
answered Dec 18 '14 at 12:10
Tony Balmforth
3,327919
3,327919
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
add a comment |
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
Thanks Tony, I think you gave me a good answer, now I know the phrase is not proper to somebody I'm not familiar with.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:18
add a comment |
It means that the person saying it is not listening so you may as well talk to their hand.
It's often extended to something like "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face ain't listening".
I believe an image will help here:
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
add a comment |
It means that the person saying it is not listening so you may as well talk to their hand.
It's often extended to something like "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face ain't listening".
I believe an image will help here:
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
add a comment |
It means that the person saying it is not listening so you may as well talk to their hand.
It's often extended to something like "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face ain't listening".
I believe an image will help here:
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
It means that the person saying it is not listening so you may as well talk to their hand.
It's often extended to something like "Talk to the hand, 'cause the face ain't listening".
I believe an image will help here:
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
edited yesterday
Glorfindel
5,99383338
5,99383338
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:33
Ste
12.6k85197
12.6k85197
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
add a comment |
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
Great pic! I assume that is contempt on his face.
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:21
add a comment |
There is a wikipedia article on talk to the hand:
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language
slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated as a
contemptuous way of saying one does not want to hear what the person
who is speaking is saying.
A well known example would be this scene from Terminator 3.
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
add a comment |
There is a wikipedia article on talk to the hand:
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language
slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated as a
contemptuous way of saying one does not want to hear what the person
who is speaking is saying.
A well known example would be this scene from Terminator 3.
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
add a comment |
There is a wikipedia article on talk to the hand:
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language
slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated as a
contemptuous way of saying one does not want to hear what the person
who is speaking is saying.
A well known example would be this scene from Terminator 3.
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
There is a wikipedia article on talk to the hand:
"Talk to the hand" (or "tell it to the hand") is an English language
slang phrase associated with the 1990s. It originated as a
contemptuous way of saying one does not want to hear what the person
who is speaking is saying.
A well known example would be this scene from Terminator 3.
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
answered Dec 18 '14 at 9:37
のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
1,1012820
1,1012820
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
add a comment |
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
The scene was funny and vivid enough to express how rude the phrase is! Thanks for offering such good material to help understanding!
– Knight-O
Dec 19 '14 at 1:15
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
@Knight-O You're most welcome! Quite vivid indeed! Cheers!
– のｂるしｔｙぱんｋｙ
Dec 19 '14 at 7:10
add a comment |
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