Loser (hand gesture)

Hand gesture used as a taunt

Child making the loser gesture

The loser is a hand gesture made by extending the right thumb and index fingers, leaving the other fingers closed to create the letter L, interpreted as "loser", and generally given as a demeaning sign.[1] Sometimes this is accompanied by raising the hand to the giver's forehead.[1]

The gesture was popular in the 1990s, partly popularized by the 1994 movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.[2]

## Usage of an "L" hand sign in specific contexts

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In Brazil, the "L" is the political symbol of voting in Lula da Silva for president.[3] Also, in Brazil, Germán Cano, soccer player from Fluminense, use the L to commemorate when he scores a goal.[4]

Also in Brazil, an "L" handsign is used for cheering for Brazilian e-sports players from LOUD organization[5] (e.g. during "VCT 2023: LOCK // IN" event in São Paulo).[6]

In Poland, the "L" denotes allegiance to the Legia Warszawa football club.

## References

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### Sources

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* Armstrong, Nancy; Wagner, Melissa (2003). Field Guide to Gestures: How to Identify and Interpret Virtually Every Gesture Known to Man. Quirk Books. ISBN 1-931686-20-3.

### Notes

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1. ^ a b Armstrong; Wagner (2003), p. 69
2. ^ Armstrong; Wagner (2003), p. 68
3. ^ Berti, Lucas (18 October 2022). "Former footballer Raí makes Lula gesture at Ballon d'Or ceremony". The Brazilian Report. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
4. ^ "Por que Germán Cano comemora seus gols fazendo um "L" com as mãos? | Goal.com Brasil". www.goal.com. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
5. ^ "LOUD domina premiação do Prêmio Esports Brasil; veja vencedores". Adrenaline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
6. ^ Top 8 ALPHA Teams Are Locked In | Day 3 Highlights | VCT LOCK // IN, 15 February 2023, retrieved 10 March 2023

## External links

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* Media related to Loser (hand gesture) at Wikimedia Commons

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Gestures

Friendly gestures|

* Air kiss
* Applause
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* Cheek kiss
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Gestures of respect|

* Adab
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Salutes|

* Bellamy salute
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* Three-finger salute (pro-democracy)
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* Vulcan salute
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Celebratory gestures|

* Applause
* Crossed hands
* Fist pump
* High five
* Low five
* Victory clasp
* V sign

Finger-counting|

* Chinese number gestures
* Chisanbop
* Finger binary

Obscene gestures|

* Anasyrma
* Bras d'honneur
* Fig sign
* Middle finger
* Mooning
* Mountza
* Nazi salute
* Reversed V sign
* Shocker
* Sign of the horns
* Thumb/index-finger ring
* Wanker

Taunts|

* Akanbe
* Loser
* Talk to the hand

Head motions|

* Head bobble
* Head shake
* Nod

Other gestures|

* Air quotes
* Allergic salute
* Aussie salute
* Awkward turtle
* Che vuoi?
* Crossed fingers
* Distress signal
* Duterte fist
* Eyelid pull
* Facepalm
* Finger gun
* Gang sign
* Hand-in-waistcoat
* Hand rubbing
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* Laban sign
* Merkel-Raute
* Pointing
* Pollice verso
* Shrug
* Sign of the cross
* Lesser sign of the cross

Related|

* List of gestures
* Articulatory gestures
* Finger pinching conspiracy theory
* Hand signals
* Manual communication
* Mudra
* Nonverbal communication
* Sign language

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