air quote en · NOUN
Meanings
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(plural-normally) A typically two-handed gesture resembling quotation marks, indicating that the gesturer is speaking ironically or using unusual terminology.
You could hear the air quotes around ‘chill’ when he said it.
2020, Ben Aaronovitch, False Value, Gollancz, page 11:
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(broadly, plural-normally) An emphatic tone of voice used to indicate a euphemism, or displeasure with a false or inaccurate phrase being quoted.
"So you were out with 'the boys'," she said vexedly, putting air quotes around the last two words.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| air quotes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (12)
nb hermetegn (hand gesture) · pl znak cudzysłowu narysowany palcami w powietrzu (hand gesture) · es comillas aéreas (hand gesture) · es entre comillas con los dedos (hand gesture) · cmn 引號手勢 /引号手势 (hand gesture) · es entre comillas (hand gesture) · fi ilmalainausmerkki (hand gesture) · es comillas dactilares (hand gesture) · ja エアクオート (hand gesture) · ko 따옴표 (hand gesture) · pt aspas no ar (hand gesture) · fr guillemets ironiques (hand gesture)