I just learned that the Belgian hand gesture for this involves tapping your temple with your index finger and then making a motion like you're catching a fly right in front of your forehead (as shown in this video). It's often accompanied by a short whistle.
I know in the U.S. people often make a spiral motion at their temple with an index finger. What do they do where you're from?
Posted Dec 20, 2015, 10:19 AM UTC
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Where are you from?
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I don't know if it's a UK thing, but I've always done index finger touching my temple, and twisting it back and forth - I guess its "a screw loose"
I've seen this in the US
Spiral motion like the US, or tapping your forehead/temple with your index finger. I'm from Canada.
In east european countries it's holding the index finger at your temple and twisting the finger up and down.
Spiral motion at forehead with index, same as the US. I'm from NZ.
That video quality...
I guess in Australia the most common one is just a stirry motion with your index finger at your temple.
That spiral thing but also waving your hand in front of your face. I'm from Germany.
Also the thing u/-Oizys mentioned. At least in the Rheinland. But yeah the waving is more common.
I lived in Germany for a couple of years and I never got clear on the difference in the meaning between waving in front of your face and tapping on your forehead with your index finger (d.h. jemandem den Vogel zeigen). Is the first one "crazy" and the second one "dumb"?