21 Common Hand Signs & Gestures (& What They Mean)

The complete visual guide to the most popular hand signs

Hand signs and gestures are used across communities and cultures as non-verbal forms of communication. As a significant part of human language, hand signs play an important role in public speaking and social interactions—which is why it’s so important to know precisely what they mean! In the article below, we’ve provided a comprehensive list of the most common hand gestures around the world—including variations on their meanings based on what culture or country you find yourself in.

Common Hand Signs & Their Meanings

1. Thumbs Up 👍: Expresses approval, agreement, or contentment.
2. Peace Sign✌️: Indicates unity, peace, and sometimes victory.
3. Shaka Sign 🤙: Used to express camaraderie and positivity, i.e., “hang loose.”
4. Pinched Fingers 🤌: Italian gesture to ask “what do you want?”
5. I Love You Sign 🤟: Borrowed from American Sign Language to express love.

Steps

Thumbs Up

1. The “thumbs up” is a common symbol of approval or contentment.{endbold} The hand sign is formed by making a fist, then extending a thumb and pointing it upward. In American and European cultures, it’s used to express agreement, approval, or the fact that everything is going according to plan.^[1]
   
   • Similarly, the “thumbs down” gesture is commonly used in the U.S. to mean the opposite of a “thumbs up,” i.e., disapproval or disagreement.
   • The “thumbs down” and “thumbs up” emojis are also very commonly used to express these ideas over text.
   • In other countries, however, these hand signs have a different meaning. The “thumbs up” sign is considered a major insult in many Islamic and Asian countries, and the “thumbs down” sign may be considered rude and arrogant in other cultures.^[2]
   • In Australia, the “thumbs up” gesture shares the European and American meanings unless it’s moved up and down—which turns it into an insult.

Peace or Victory Sign

1. The peace sign is a mostly universal positive symbol of peace and unity. This meaning of the peace sign came about during the Vietnam War and the “hippie” era in the United States, during which the peace sign began to symbolize pacifism and efforts to end the conflict.^[3]
   
   • Prior to the 1960s, however, the hand sign that features the index and middle fingers extended in a “V” actually indicated “victory.” For this reason, the symbol is sometimes referred to as a “victory sign.”^[4]
   • In the U.S., the peace sign holds the same meaning regardless of palm orientation. In other countries like the U.K., South Africa, and Australia, however, making a peace sign with the palm facing inward is considered a major insult.^[5]

OK Sign

1. The “OK” sign means “okay” or “fine by me.”{endbold} The hand sign is made by curling the index finger and thumb into a circle and then extending the remaining fingers upward. The OK sign is a common hand gesture throughout the English-speaking world and is typically used to say that everything is going well.^[6]
   
   • This symbol has varied meanings across different cultures and also has been partially co-opted by modern-day hate groups.
   • In Brazil, Germany, Russia, and France, the gesture is considered to be an extremely rude insult.^[7] In New Zealand it’s used to call out a lazy person, and in Australia it’s used to express the number “zero.”
   • In Buddhism, the “OK” sign is called the Vitarka Mudra and represents the Wheel of Dharma. It’s often used in meditation and other spiritual practices.^[8]
   • Unfortunately, the OK symbol has also been used by white supremacy groups to indicate their affiliation and express racist views. The hand gesture has now been classified as an official hate gesture, but it’s still widely used for its original, positive meaning.

Shaka Sign

1. The shaka hand sign can mean “right on,” “take it easy,” or “doing great.”{endbold} Originating in Hawaiian culture, this symbol is used for any friendly message that expresses gratitude or goodwill. Sometimes called the “hang loose” or “surfer” sign, the shaka sign is made by curling the three middle fingers inward while extending the thumb and pinky finger.
   
   • The gesture can be given added emphasis by twisting the hand back and forth with the knuckles facing outward.

Vulcan Salute

1. The Vulcan Salute means to “live long and prosper.”{endbold} This hand gesture comes from the Star Trek franchise and is often used between fans to identify each other and express their common interests. The salute itself is made by holding up one’s hand and separating the fingers to create a “V” shape between the middle and ring fingers.^[9]
   

Heart Hands

1. The heart-hands gesture visually represents love and friendship. Just like any heart symbol, the heart hands express feelings of fondness and affection. The heart sign can be formed in different ways and is often distinguished by generation—millennials are known to use all their fingers to form the heart, while Gen Z use only their index and middle fingers.^[10]
   
   • The millennial version of the heart hands sign is also commonly associated with Taylor Swift as a symbol of her Fearless era.^[11]

Pinched Fingers

1. The pinched fingers gesture is an Italian way to ask, “What do you want?”{endbold} In Italian culture, it’s common for people to use their hands to speak and gesticulate. The “pinched fingers” gesture, however, has been popularized around the world to express disbelief or frustration. The hand sign itself is made by touching the fingers and thumb together while shaking the wrist.^[12]
   
   • The same hand sign can also be used to say “chef’s kiss” and express that a meal was particularly tasty. This expression brings the “pinched fingers” to the lips to be kissed and moved away dramatically.^[13]

“Rock On” or the Sign of the Horns

1. The sign of the horns can mean anything from “rock on” to infidelity or devil worship. The hand gesture is made by curling the middle, thumb, and ring fingers in toward the palm while extending the index and pinky fingers upwards. In America, this symbol is often called the “rock on” symbol and is used by hard rock bands to express approval or enjoyment.^[14]
   
   • In many European countries, however, this bull-like symbol is seen as the sign of the devil. Conversely, Hindu and Buddhist cultures use it as a positive symbol that expels demons, also known as the karana mudrā.^[15]
   • Also known as the Corona, this hand gesture can also be used to indicate that one’s spouse is cheating on them in countries like Italy, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and Portugal.^[16]
   • The sign can also be used in more niche communities, like schools that have a bull or bull-like animal as their mascot. The student body of the University of Texas in Austin, for example, is known as the Longhorns, so they often flash this symbol at sporting events to show support for their team.

“I Love You” Sign

1. The “I love you” gesture is a shorthand way to say this phrase in American Sign Language. The ASL sign is made by curling the middle and ring fingers into the palm and extending the thumb, index, and pinky fingers outwards. This sign is a composite of the ASL fingerspelling signs for the letters “I,” “L,” and “Y,” so it’s similar to saying “ILY” over text or in real life!^[17]
   
   • While this love hand sign originates with American Sign Language, it’s become popular in both Deaf and hearing communities alike.

“Come Here” Gesture

1. The “come here” gesture is used to summon someone toward you. In the U.S. and some other English-speaking countries, curling the index finger toward the palm is a way to say “come over here” or “come closer.” In other countries, however, it’s known as “the dog call” and should not be used to summon humans.^[18]
   
   • In the Philippines, for instance, this hand gesture is considered to be incredibly offensive and can even result in arrest.^[19]
   • The beckoning hand sign is also considered rude in Japanese culture and even signifies “death” in Singapore.^[20]

Extended Pinky Finger

1. Extending a pinky finger indicates sincerity in some cultures. In many English-speaking countries, extending your littlest finger is a way to initiate a pinky swear, which means that someone is making a heartfelt and genuine promise.^[21]
   
   • In certain Asian countries like China, however, pointing outward with your pinky is considered a rude gesture and is best to be avoided.^[22]

Fingers Crossed

1. Crossing one’s fingers is a way to hope for good luck or for a wish to come true. This hand symbol is rooted in a common superstition in Western cultures where early Christians would cross their index and middle fingers to invoke the power of the cross. In modern times, it’s become a modern (and secular) symbol of hope and good fortune.^[23]
   
   • Sometimes, the fingers-crossed gesture can be used as a way to be insincere while making a promise. Some people (often schoolchildren) will cross their fingers behind their backs while making a commitment, believing that this gesture frees them from the promise.
   • In Vietnam, crossing one’s fingers is considered a vulgar symbol.^[24]

Fig Sign

1. The fig sign can be used as an insult or to ward off evil spirits. The hand sign is made by curling the hand into a fist and sticking the thumb between the index and middle fingers. The fig sign is considered to be a mildly obscene gesture in many countries, including Italy, Greece, and South Africa.^[25]
   
   • Other countries, such as Russia and Azerbaijan, use this gesture to indicate a rude and absolute refusal.^[26]
   • Meanwhile, Portuguese, Spanish, and Brazilian cultures use the fig hand sign as a way to ward off evil spirits and wish someone good luck.

Middle Finger

1. The middle finger is a universal symbol to offend or insult someone. Almost every country and culture in the world recognizes an extended middle finger as an offensive statement. The hand sign is often used as a way to instigate a fight and should be avoided as much as possible. The middle finger is also referred to with verbiage like “flipping someone off” or “giving someone the bird.”^[27]
   

“V” Hand Sign

1. The “V” hand sign held near the mouth alludes to oral sex. While similar in handshape to the peace or victory sign, this hand symbol is specifically held near the mouth to change its meaning and connotation. This sign and placement is used to suggest oral sex or otherwise sexual behavior.^[28]
   

“L” Hand Sign

1. The “L” hand sign is used to say “loser” or “loss.” This sign is made by extending the thumb and index finger in an “L” shape. Often, the hand is brought up to the forehead and used to insult someone else, effectively calling them a “loser.”^[29] However, the modern slang phrase “take an ‘L’” (meaning “take a loss” or “lose at something”) can also be represented by the “L” hand sign.
   

Double Pointer Fingers

1. Two index fingers pointing inwards indicate shyness. Popular with Gen Z, this hand sign is used to express that someone is too shy to say what they’re thinking or they’re working up the nerve to be honest about their feelings. Usually, this gesture is used when flirting or feigning innocence and is often seen in emoji form (👉👈).^[30]
   

“Ice In My Veins”

1. The “ice in my veins” gesture is a way to describe oneself as “cold-blooded.” The sign originated with Los Angeles Lakers player D’Angelo Russell, who placed two fingers on his inner arm to indicate that he’s cold-blooded. However, the hand gesture then took off on TikTok and became hugely popular with Gen Z.
   

“You Ate It”

1. The “you ate it” hand sign is used after a burp or fart in a game-like way. Common amongst middle and high schoolers, the gesture involves opening the hand in a 5-shape and touching the forehead with the thumb. The symbol is used after someone burps or farts—people in the room will put their hand to their forehead, and the last person to do so “ate” the flatulence.
   

The Circle Game Gesture

1. This game uses an upside-down OK sign to trick others into getting hit. In a game popular among teachers, one person will randomly make this hand sign and hold it somewhere out of direct eyesight, usually at hip level. If someone else makes eye contact with the hand sign, they have to stick their index finger in the hole while looking away or else get smacked in the arm.^[31]
   

Talking on the Phone

1. Two different hand signs represent phone calls, depending on generation. Elder Gen Z individuals, along with older generations like millennials and Gen Xers, will indicate a phone call by holding a fist to their ear with their thumb and pinky extended. This handshape mimics the landline and flip phones that these generations grew up with.
   
   • Members of young Gen Z and Gen Alpha, however, have only experienced smartphones and similar mobile devices. Therefore, they keep their hand completely flat and simply raise it to their ear.

Tips

• When using hand signs and gestures, make sure to nail the nuance of each symbol, especially if you’re spending time in a culture that’s not your own. Something as simple as palm orientation can significantly change the meaning of the sign you’re trying to use.
• Be mindful of pointing at people with your index finger—while sometimes used to emphasize a point, this gesture can also be perceived as rude or aggressive when directed at another person.

References

1. ↑ https://time.com/4984728/thumbs-up-thumbs-down-history/
2. ↑ https://acutrans.com/understanding-non-verbal-communication-gestures-that-vary-across-cultures/
3. ↑ https://theweek.com/captured/737372/origin-story-peace-sign
4. ↑ https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/v-victory-sign-resistance
5. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/hand-gestures-offensive-different-countries-2018-6#-but-flip-it-around-and-in-some-countries-its-like-giving-someone-the-finger-2
6. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2019/09/26/764728163/the-ok-hand-gesture-is-now-listed-as-a-symbol-of-hate
7. ↑ https://bosco-conference.com/en/novosti/4-gestures-to-avoid-with-international-audiences
8. ↑ https://web.stanford.edu/class/history11sc/pdfs/mudras.pdf
9. ↑ https://www.startrek.com/news/the-jewish-ritual-that-led-nimoy-to-create-the-vulcan-salute
10. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gen-z-millennial-heart-hand-gesture-b2140445.html
11. ↑ https://www.vulture.com/2011/08/taylor_swift_claiming_responsi.html
12. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51333661
13. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/chefs-kiss/
14. ↑ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/local/2011/02/18/hand-horns-story-behind-popular-rock-concert-gesture/985504007
15. ↑ https://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/shoouyinn/MudrasDescribed.html
16. ↑ ​​https://italoamericano.org/horns-symbol-of-infidelity/
17. ↑ https://youtu.be/8rkdu9D9geo?t=8
18. ↑ https://harrisburg.psu.edu/international-students-office/guide-american-culture-etiquette
19. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cross-cultural-gestures_b_3437653
20. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=3r-3YH3t45cC&pg=PA55#v=onepage&q&f=false
21. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pinky-swear
22. ↑ https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/folklorearchive/2018/11/11/insulting-gestures-china-gesture-4-pointing-with-pinky/
23. ↑ https://artsandculture.google.com/story/18-superstitions-from-around-the-world/QQIyTWmzJ9QvLg
24. ↑ https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/vietnamese-etiquette-travellers
25. ↑ https://www.symbols.com/symbol/the-fig-hand-gesture
26. ↑ https://www.rbth.com/arts/2014/07/29/the_world_of_russian_folk_gestures_37017
27. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20%28someone%29%20the%20bird
28. ↑ https://matadornetwork.com/read/hand-signs-meaning/
29. ↑ https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetogest0000arms/page/1/mode/1up?q=loser
30. ↑ https://gamequitters.com/emoji-slang-meanings/
31. ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/wj8e74/searching-for-the-man-behind-the-circle-game

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/PXDlSWa

170+ Best Useless Facts That Sound Like Lies

The ultimate list of funny, random, & mind-blowing factsDo you love useless facts and weird trivia? If so, we’ve got a list for you! Whether you want to sharpen your trivia skills or want to show off your smarts, learning useless facts is a great way to do it. That’s why we put together an article with over 170 funny, random, and useless facts about the world, animals, food, and more. Plus, we spoke to trivia expert Roy Cohen to get his advice for remembering useless facts and a few of his favorite bits of trivia.

Top Useless Facts

• Dutch pink is a shade of yellow.
• Platypuses sweat milk.
• The Pope can't be an organ donor.
• Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.
• Animals can also be allergic to humans.
• Hasbro has trademarked the scent of Play-Doh.
• Honey never goes bad.

Steps

Best Useless Facts

1. Impress your friends with the best useless facts. Cohen says, “People love learning little facts… because they're surprising and easy to remember.”^[1] Give your friend group one of these fun little facts to help them leave everyone speechless with their dazzling intellect:
   
   • Cohen offers the following fact to get you started: Jack White is the real name of the Joker, the comic book supervillain.^[2]
   • Dutch pink is a shade of yellow.
   • In 1930s slang, artillery was any food that caused gas.
   • A lightning bolt is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun.
   • It snows metal on Venus.
   • Peanut oil is one of the key ingredients in dynamite.^[3]
   • There’s a planet made almost entirely of diamonds.
   • President Theodore Roosevelt had a pet hyena.
   • New Zealand has more sheep than humans.
   • Platypuses sweat milk.
   • The Paris Catacombs contain the remains of over 6 million people.
   • There were active volcanoes on the moon when dinosaurs were alive.^[4]
   • There is a jail specifically for polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
   • In the UK, it’s illegal to wear a suit of armor in Parliament.
   • According to Genesis 1:20–22, the chicken came before the egg.^[5]
   • Older maps included fake places to prevent plagiarism.^[6]
   • As dogs were domesticated, their eyes evolved to look cuter.
   • Velociraptors had feathers like a bird.
   • Samuel L. Jackson was an usher at Martin Luther King Jr’s funeral.^[7]

Random Useless Facts

1. Drop a random useless fact to keep the conversation going. If you’ve run through all of the usual small-talk subjects like work, the weather, and your plans for the weekend, a random useless fact can help you keep the conversation going. Try one of these useless facts when you’re ready to shake things up:
   
   • Cruise ships have morgues that can hold up to 10 bodies at a time.
   • Daniel Craig was an anonymous Stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
   • The Pope can't be an organ donor.
   • Around 12% of people only dream in black and white.
   • Bananas grown under a black light will turn blue.
   • You can get cell phone service at Everest Base Camp.^[8]
   • The Eiffel Tower has 1,710 steps and 108 stories.
   • The opposite sides of a die always add up to seven.
   • Every US state shares a letter with the word “mackerel” except for Ohio.
   • Your fingernails grow faster on your dominant hand.
   • The King of Hearts is the only king in a deck of cards without a mustache.^[9]
   • There’s a pub in Ireland that’s been running for more than 1,100 years!^[10]
   • Comets smell like rotten eggs.
   • Bees can fly higher than Mount Everest.
   • People once ate arsenic to improve their skin.
   • Neil Armstrong’s hair was sold in 2004 for $3,000.
   • Google Images was created after Jennifer Lopez wore the green dress at the 2000 Grammys.
   • Central Park in New York City is larger than the entire country of Monaco.
   • Salvador Dalí designed the logo for the Chupa Chups lollipop brand.^[11]

Funny Useless Facts

1. Give everyone a chuckle with a funny useless fact. Some believe that funny useless facts are easier to remember. Cohen explains, “If information is strange or funny, it sticks with you… Make information fun, interesting, and weird. That helps you remember it.”^[12] Make yourself unforgettable with these hilarious useless facts:
   
   • The German word for a birth-control pill is “Antibabypille.”^[13]
   • Starfish do not have brains.
   • Scotland's national animal is a unicorn.
   • A man named Ronald MacDonald robbed Wendy's in 2005.^[14]
   • A woman in the United Kingdom once called the police when her ice cream didn’t have enough sprinkles.
   • Animals can also be allergic to humans.
   • Wearing a necktie could reduce blood flow to your brain by up to 7.5%.
   • McDonald’s once made bubblegum-flavored broccoli.^[15]
   • A “buttload" is an actual unit of measurement for wine. It’s about 126 gallons (477 Litres).
   • Due to contractual obligations, Frank Sinatra was offered the starring role in “Die Hard”. He was 70 years old at the time.
   • Hasbro trademarked the scent of Play-Doh.
   • Pope Francis was made an honorary Harlem Globetrotter in 2015.
   • Vending machines are deadlier than sharks…so are cows and coconuts.
   • Mulan has the highest kill count of any Disney character.
   • Dr. Seuss invented the word “nerd”?^[16]
   • People who swear tend to be more honest.
   • Arizona fines drivers under its “Stupid Motorist Law.”
   • The man who invented pop-up advertisements deeply regrets it and says he’s very sorry.
   • The Apollo missions have left 96 bags of poop, pee, and vomit on the moon.^[17]

Useless Facts about History

1. Learn some of the strangest facts about history. Historical facts can really mess with our minds because we have a hard time imagining what life was like 100, 1,000, or more years ago. “The fact that blows people’s minds the most is this: George Washington's salary as president in 1789 was $25,000 a year,” Cohen explains.^[18]
   
   • Another useless fact about history from Cohen is that President James Polk was born in 1790, and he still has a living grandchild. “His child was born when he was 70, and that child also had a child at 70, which is how a grandchild from the 18th century is still alive.”^[19]
   • Pineapples were a status symbol in England in the 1700s.
   • Americans wiped themselves with corncobs before toilet paper was invented.
   • When Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus became the emperor of Rome, he made his horse Incitatus a senator.^[20]
   • On May 15, 1800, King George III of Great Britain and Ireland survived two assassination attempts in one day.
   • DNA evidence suggests that one in every 200 people in the world is a descendant of Genghis Khan.
   • Richard the Lionheart only spent six months of his ten-year reign in England.^[21]
   • In the 1800s, dentures were made using the teeth of dead soldiers.
   • King Tut’s parents were probably brother and sister.^[22]
   • The Great Wall of China was completed 2 years after the first telephone call.
   • Cleopatra lived nearer in time to the first moon landing than the building of the pyramids of Giza
   • Wooly mammoths survived into the age of the pyramids. ^[23]
   • The Ancient Greeks believed people with red hair turned into vampires after they died.
   • Russia ran out of vodka in 22 hours while celebrating the end of WWII.
   • The University of Oxford is older than the Aztec Empire.
   • Tug of War was an Olympic sport between 1900 and 1920.
   • President Andrew Jackson taught his pet parrot Polly to curse like a sailor.
   • A woman named Ching Shih is the most successful pirate in history.
   • Scientists believe Alexander the Great was accidentally buried alive.^[24]

Mind-Blowing Useless Facts about the World

1. Share useless facts about the world around you. From pop culture to planetary science, the world has many oddities.^[25] Use one of these useless facts about the world the next time you need a quick piece of trivia:
   
   • Australia is wider than the moon.
   • Hawaii gets 3 feet closer to Alaska every year.
   • The stone heads on Easter Island have bodies.
   • LEGO bricks withstand compression better than concrete.
   • The Earth’s rotation is slowing down, making a day 1.8 seconds longer per century.
   • Walt Disney has won more Academy Awards than anyone else.
   • Headphones can increase the bacteria in your ears.
   • Human teeth are the only part of the body that can’t heal themselves.^[26]
   • The Spice Girls were originally a band called Touch.
   • It's illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland.
   • People are more creative in the shower.
   • Competitive art was an Olympic sport from 1912 to 1948.
   • Andy Warhol’s Flowers inspired Christian Louboutin to make the bottoms of his shoes red.
   • A jiffy is a unit of time that’s 1/100th of a second.
   • At the end of “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles, there’s a frequency only dogs can hear.
   • The bamboo plant is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world.
   • You share your birthday with around 19 million people.
   • The continent of Africa is in all four hemispheres.
   • The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134°F in Death Valley, Nevada, in July 1913.^[27]

Interesting Useless Facts about Animals

1. Captivate animal lovers with a few useless facts. The animal kingdom is filled with strange and interesting animals with odd behaviors. Check out this list of useless—and fascinating—facts about different animals:
   
   • Blue whales eat half a million calories in one mouthful.
   • Some octopus species lay 56,000 eggs at a time.
   • Armadillo shells are bulletproof.
   • The bumblebee bat is the world’s smallest mammal.^[28]
   • A grizzly bear’s bite is so strong that it can crush a bowling ball.
   • The Regal Horned Lizard squirts blood out of its eyes when it feels threatened.^[29]
   • There’s a type of jellyfish that’s immortal.^[30]
   • Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
   • Koalas sleep 20-22 hours a day.
   • An elephant’s trunk has more muscles than the entire human body.
   • Snails have 14,000 teeth.
   • A chicken once lived for 18 months without a head.^[31]
   • A cat spends on average 15 hours a day sleeping.
   • Dolphins give each other unique whistles to distinguish between members of a pod.
   • There's an ant species unique to New York City called ManhattAnts.
   • A crocodile can’t stick out its tongue.
   • An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
   • Humans are the only animals that blush.
   • You can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from over two miles away.^[32]

Useless Facts about Food

1. Boggle their minds with a useless fact about food. Vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores have one thing in common. They all eat food. Impress your friends no matter what they eat with these mind-blowing facts about different types of food:
   
   • Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1927.^[33]
   • Avocados and watermelons are berries.
   • Ketchup used to be a type of medicine.
   • You can bounce a ripe cranberry like a rubber ball.
   • Honey never goes bad.^[34]
   • An 11-year-old boy invented Popsicles in 1905.^[35]
   • Cucumbers are 95% water.
   • Figs are actually inverted flowers.
   • Froot Loops all taste the same, no matter what color they are.
   • Thomas Jefferson popularized mac and cheese in America.
   • Wine is older than recorded history.
   • The world’s oldest surviving recipe is over 4,000 years old.
   • It can take over 400 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
   • If you eat too many carrots, your skin can turn orange.
   • Tonic water glows in the dark.
   • Mustard is one of the world’s oldest condiments.
   • Ancient civilizations used chocolate as currency.
   • M&Ms are named after their creators: Mars & Murrie.^[36]
   • Pretzel twists were meant to look like arms crossed in prayer.^[37]

Weird Useless Facts about the English Language

1. Become an amateur grammarian or linguist with useless facts about English. The English language has inconsistent spelling, words that look the same but have different meanings, and pronunciation that can seem random to non-English speakers.^[38] So, there are a lot of weird facts about it.^[39] Make everyone think you're the smartest person in the room with these useless facts about English:
   
   • Shakespeare invented over 1,700 words.^[40]
   • “Saturday wit” was Tudor-era slang for dirty jokes.
   • The words “a,” “and,” “be,” “have,” “he,” “I,” “in,” “of,” “that,” “the,” and “to” make up 25% of all written English.
   • The “skate” in the word “cheapskate” is an old American dialect word for a worn-out horse.
   • A group of dragonflies is called a dazzle.
   • Use of the word selfie increased by 17000% between 2012 and 2013.
   • In Elizabethan English, a clap of thunder was nicknamed a rounce-robble-hobble.
   • In its earliest known written record, the English alphabet had 29 letters.
   • The word comet comes from a Greek word meaning “long-haired star.”
   • Cowards have been called chickens since the 14th century.^[41]
   • “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” a lung condition caused by inhaling ash or dust, is the longest word in English.
   • Some of the oldest words in the English language are still in use today, including “I,” “love,” “black,” “mother,” “fire,” “hand,” and “hear.”
   • The word “goodbye” came from an Old English phrase that meant “God be with you.”
   • Most English words originate from French and Old English.^[42]
   • “The” is the most commonly used word in the English language.^[43]
   • The word “cereal” comes from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and the harvest.
   • The last letter added to the English alphabet was ‘J’ in 1524.
   • The real name for a hashtag is an octothorpe.
   • The fear of long words is called Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.^[44]

What is the most useless fact ever?

1. The most useless fact is a matter of opinion. One of the facts Cohen shared might be a candidate. He says that the oldest bottle of condiment continuously sold in the U.S. is Worcestershire sauce from England.^[45] But we’ll let you be the judge. Here are a few more candidates for the most useless facts ever:
   
   • Times Square was originally known as “Longacre Square.”
   • The tiny pockets in jeans were originally designed to store pocket watches.
   • A woman's heart rate is faster than a man's.
   • From 1886 to 1902, the Statue of Liberty was a federal lighthouse.
   • Sloths can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes.^[46]
   • The quietest place on earth is an anechoic chamber in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
   • As many as 80% of Hong Kong’s toilets are flushed with seawater.
   • The FBI had a 1,427-page file on Albert Einstein.
   • 9 out of 10 people experience phantom phone vibrations.
   • Costco’s hot dog and soda combo has remained at the same price since 1985.^[47]
   • The letter “Q” doesn’t appear in any American state’s name.
   • Over 60% of the world’s lakes are located in Canada.
   • The average golf ball has 336 dimples.
   • The average person blinks 14 to 17 times per minute.
   • The sun is about 400 times larger than the moon.
   • The deepest part of the ocean is approximately 35,876 feet down.
   • Winds on Neptune can blow faster than 1,200 miles an hour.
   • A silverback gorilla can lift over 1,763 pounds.
   • The oldest living land animal on earth is a 192-year-old tortoise named Jonathan.^[48]

References

1. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
2. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
3. ↑ https://parade.com/living/interesting-facts
4. ↑ https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/interesting-facts-rcna130243
5. ↑ https://www.bible.com/bible/114/GEN.1.20-22.NKJV
6. ↑ https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-100-useless-facts-you-don-t-need-to-know
7. ↑ https://www.thefactsite.com/facts-everyone-should-know/
8. ↑ https://parade.com/living/interesting-facts
9. ↑ https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-100-useless-facts-you-don-t-need-to-know
10. ↑ https://www.thefactsite.com/facts-everyone-should-know/
11. ↑ https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/interesting-facts-rcna130243
12. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
13. ↑ https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-100-useless-facts-you-don-t-need-to-know
14. ↑ https://parade.com/living/interesting-facts
15. ↑ https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/interesting-facts-rcna130243
16. ↑ https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-100-useless-facts-you-don-t-need-to-know
17. ↑ https://www.thefactsite.com/facts-everyone-should-know/
18. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
19. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
20. ↑ https://www.weareteachers.com/history-facts-kids/
21. ↑ https://www.historyhit.com/amazing-historical-facts-figures-and-fascinating-finds/
22. ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/disturbing-history-facts/
23. ↑ https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/strange-weird-historical-facts/
24. ↑ https://parade.com/1099930/marynliles/history-facts/
25. ↑ [v165498_b01]. 30 July 2025.
26. ↑ https://www.weareteachers.com/weird-fun-facts
27. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a64055094/fun-facts-random/
28. ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/interesting-facts/
29. ↑ https://www.boredteachers.com/post/fascinating-animal-facts
30. ↑ https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/immortal-jellyfish-secret-to-cheating-death.html
31. ↑ https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/facts-about-animals
32. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a64055094/fun-facts-random/
33. ↑ https://www.eatfirst.com.au/en-au/c/blog/fun-facts-about-food
34. ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-science-behind-honeys-eternal-shelf-life-1218690/
35. ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/22/425294957/how-an-11-year-old-boy-invented-the-popsicle
36. ↑ https://www.weareteachers.com/fun-food-facts/
37. ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/religious-history-pretzels
38. ↑ https://snaplanguage.io/articles/2019-08-15
39. ↑ [v165498_b01]. 30 July 2025.
40. ↑ https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-words
41. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/100-random-language-facts_b_6272224
42. ↑ https://www.englishcollege.com/post/13-fun-surprising-facts-english-language
43. ↑ https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/english-language-facts/
44. ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a64055094/fun-facts-random/
45. ↑ [v165296_b01]. 06 March 2025.
46. ↑ https://parade.com/living/interesting-facts
47. ↑ https://www.thefactsite.com/facts-everyone-should-know/
48. ↑ https://www.today.com/life/inspiration/interesting-facts-rcna130243

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Is He Interested In Me Quiz

So, there’s this really cute guy, but he doesn’t know you. Well, at least that’s what you think.

Answer these questions, and we’ll tell you if this guy secretly has the hots for you!

Questions Overview

Is He Interested In Me?

Take this quiz to find out!

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1. Do you ever catch him looking at you?

1. Yeah, but no more than normal.
2. No, that's creepy.
3. Yep, and I'm feeling pretty watched.
4. Uh, are you a telepath? ALL the time!

2. Does he seem to lean towards you when you talk?

1. He seems focused on what I say, but not really more than that.
2. No, he seems to be in another world when I talk.
3. It's hard to tell, but I think so!
4. Uh, I have his attention whether talking or not. What are you talking about?

3. Does he seem to fidget more when he’s around you?

1. Not any more than usual.
2. No. He barely seems to realize I'm there.
3. Yeah, it seems like he does.
4. You'd think he has scorpions down his shirt with how much he fidgets around me!

4. Does he find subtle ways to touch you?

1. Not really, I mean, we might brush arms in a crowd. But not more than that.
2. Uh, he's practically on the other side of the room 24/7.
3. Yeah, it seems as though he's always nearby, waiting to give me a high five or hand me something.
4. You said it, not me.

5. Does he act differently around you compared to other girls?

1. Not particularly, he seems to be the same around me.
2. No way, every girl is the same to him.
3. Yeah, it seems as though he's always doing little things, whether it be holding the door open for me or letting me borrow something.
4. I can't deny that it seems different; I'm like the queen of the room.

6. Does he seem to try to impress you while you’re around?

1. Uh, we're all human. We all do that.
2. No way.
3. It does seem as though he tries to sound better around me.
4. I can't deny a fact. I've seen a definite difference.

7. Has he ever given you a compliment?

1. Not that I know of.
2. Uh, we don't ever talk.
3. No, but I think he's too scared.
4. It seemed like he was trying to.

8. By your judgment, does he light up when you walk into the room?

1. I don't think so.
2. He's not looking at me when I walk in.
3. It does seem as though his features lighten, or at least soften.
4. Can't say no!

9. Does he smile at you more than normal?

1. Can't say.
2. No, I’m not the one he smiles at.
3. Yeah, but it just seems curious.
4. Smiles all the time.

10. Has he ever smiled at your laugh?

1. Probably not?
2. No.
3. Sometimes, when I'm laughing with friends, I turn to see his eyes on me.
4. My laugh captivates him.

11. Does he find excuses to be near you?

1. Not really.
2. No.
3. It seems like he’s too scared, but he tries anyway.
4. If I’m in the room, he’ll be there as well.

12. Does he tell you things?

1. I don’t know. We don’t talk.
2. No, he never says more than he has to.
3. Yeah, all of the time.
4. Yes! He practically gives me his life story daily.

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How Do You Know If He Likes You?

How can you be really sure that he likes you back? It’s a tricky question, and likely someone can be nerve-rackingly scary and exciting all at the same time. And that’s why we’re here to help. Take a look at these articles; you’re sure to find exactly what you need:

• How to Tell if a Guy Likes You
• Subtle Signs That He Secretly Likes You
• 20 Signs a Guy Secretly Likes You More Than You Think
• How to Find Out if a Guy Secretly Likes You

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References

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