raised back of hand

What does raised back of hand mean?

The 🀚 raised back of hand emoji depicts a human hand held upright with the back of the hand facing forward and the fingers pointing up. Its literal meaning is closely tied to gestures signaling someone to "stop," "wait a minute," or hold their thoughts. Because it shows the reverse side of the hand compared to the standard raised hand, it carries a slightly more firm or defensive tone, acting as a visual barrier in conversation. In digital communication, this emoji is practically synonymous with the classic 1990s phrase "talk to the hand." People use it to shut down an annoying conversation, reject an offer, or playfully dismiss a friend's comment. It also serves as a virtual boundary-setter in text messages, acting as a stop sign when someone crosses a line, shares "too much information" (TMI), or starts an argument you want no part of.

Slang & Modern Usage

In internet slang, the 🀚 emoji is frequently used to represent a "backhand slap." When a friend or a creator says something completely out of pocket or mildly offensive, users will reply with 🀚 to playfully threaten a smack. It acts as a physical reaction to an eye-roll-inducing take, often paired with the skull or crying emojis. Another highly specific slang use involves showing off jewelry or a fresh manicure. Because engagement rings and nail art are displayed on the back of the hand, users will pair 🀚 with the ring or sparkles emojis to symbolize that they are showing off a new rock or a fresh set of nails.

Emoji Combos

Technical Information

Unicode U+1F91A
HTML Entity 🤚
CSS \1F91A
JavaScript \u{1F91A}
Unicode Version Unicode 3
Status Fully-qualified

Shortcodes

github

:raised_back_of_hand:

discord

:raised_back_of_hand: :back_of_hand:

slack

:raised_back_of_hand:

Skin Tone Variants

Related Emojis

Tags

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 🀚 emoji mean?
The 🀚 emoji represents a hand raised with the back facing outward. It is commonly used to mean "stop," "wait," or "talk to the hand" to firmly but playfully dismiss a conversation.
What is the difference between βœ‹ and 🀚?
The βœ‹ raised hand shows the palm facing forward, often used for high-fives, volunteering, or a standard "stop." The 🀚 raised back of hand faces away from the user, making it better suited for the "talk to the hand" gesture or a joking backhand slap.
What does 🀚 mean in slang?
In internet slang, 🀚 is frequently used as a playful threat of a backhand slap in response to a ridiculous or out-of-line comment.
How do you use the 🀚 emoji to show off a ring?
Because it accurately shows the back of a hand, users pair it with the πŸ’ Ring or ✨ Sparkles emoji to symbolize flaunting an engagement ring or showing off a new manicure.