ASL Idioms Idioms are fixed words or phrases which are learned as wholes and whose meanings cannot

be understood from the separate meanings of the component parts. Their meanings are figurative and come from cultural influences. Some ASL idioms are a standard sign, but with a change in sign movement, tension, or facial expression which creates a subtle change in meaning. Most idioms come at the end of the sentence. 1

1. Fists on top of each other explode toward person -Bawled out 2. Modified x twist at side of chin - Have a lot of nerve 3. Feeling fingers twist up on chest -Whats up? 4. Funny to none - Not funny 5. See to none - See nothing 6. put down on nose learned my lesson 7. True work seriously! 8. See see well see 9. On the fence cant decide 10. Weak-minded losing it 11. Mercy (exaggerated) ohhh, poor baby 12. Thirsty fish -Gullible 13. Fist kiss love it! 14. Think-self up to you 15. Jaw drops open disbelief,shock chin hit the ground 16. Eyes open big ( s to c handshape) shocked, stunned 17. Eyes pop out shocked, disbelief 18. Point to eye then two claw hands face down - stunned 19. Put down on forehead must remember 20. Roll up sleeves get to work 21. Think frozen - shocked 22. Touch-finish been there, done that 23. C with palm flapping inside- never stops talking 24. Finish!- knock it off 25. Waving f hands no problem 26. For-for why? 27. Big headed- full of themselves
1. J. Freeman King, Ed.D. and Jan Kelley-King, M.S. Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-1000

28. Train gone- you missed the conversation 29. Feeling finger swipes back on opposite palm - Take advantage of (negatively) 30. Elevens toward each other at head - On the same wave length 31. Off the wall/ off topic- random 32. Hook index fingers - Suspend 33. Dominant hand swipes under other hand fast get out of there fast 34. Index escape from other hand take off 35. exaggerate - Long- winded 36. Middle fingers brush off shoulders - Not my responsibility/problem 37. Red faced - embarrassed 38. u directionally - One- upped 39. Bottle in arms - Dont be a baby 40. F at forehead clueless 41. Question mark at fore head (puzzled)- confused 42. Throw up- seriously dislike something 43. Fire under hand - Boiling mad 44. Deflate on the other hand really hurt, crushed 45. Finger through other hand - Chastise 46. lid fly off fist - Blow your top, yell in anger 47. C to fist on chest or gut - Restrain my emotions 48. C to fist at neck - Hold my tongue 49. Sick twist at forehead sick of 50. Sick at side of head duh 51. Finger on lips (shh) keep it quiet, keep it a secret 52. Pah! success!! 53. Hold wait a sec, hold on 54. Back mind think about, on the back burner 55. inflate uplift, cheerup 56. Mercy on throat oops! 57. Brown on nose brown noser 58. G at temple pea brain 59. 5s side to side take it easy, chillin 60. rock on that was fast 61. Lock horns cant get along 62. Verbal fight clash, big argument 63. Think touch (circles)- dwell on, obsessed

64. Grab palm seize the opportunity, take advantage of (positive) 65. Party circles wild party, party all night 66. C to s on palm all gone, vanished 67. Two cs at forehead brain, genius 68. F hits chin expert, skilled 69. Index and pinky hit mouth didnt mean that/ ah-ha here it is/ not there 70. Index finger bounce off palm fall in love 71. C to S facing chin cherish, precious 72. Flat hands move to a point at forehead narrow minded 73. Flat hands move out at fore head open minded 74. I against chest self-centered, egotist 75. Flat hand swipe back and forth on index finger butter up, flatter 76. Impressed in on temple really stuck with you, always remember 77. Finger raspberry with other hand flicking the air bored stiff 78. Ng no good 79. Know down know that 80. N way no way 81. period final, thats it 82. Sh cough, cough yeah, right (sarcasm) 83. Fine hard off chest tick off, not fine with me 84. Chop neck broke, no money 85. Bent v wiggling and circling in palm never laughed so hard 86. Hand passes over head way over my head , beyond my comprehension 87. Claw back and forth in front of face wow! 88. Hand shakes back and forth at shoulder wow! 89. Hands claws to s on each other at chest heartbreaking, agonizing 90. Fine circling up on chest fancy, posh, formal 91. Two fall and slide on palm dead tired, exhausted, laid out 92. Is tapping in front of chest talk to yourself 93. Think same I agree 94. Thought disappear - forgot, totally left me 95. Thought pop up remembered, came to mind 96. F twist on throat turn off voice 97. Swipe s under chin had enough of, sick of, too much of 98. Index fingers past eyes say that again..I missed it

99. One hand smears the other like in sports, totally creamed the other team. 100. 5 to s from front of face attracted to 101. Four fingers ??? deep question, thats deep 102. dive in (kneeling past palm) immersed in something 103. feeling finger straight off chest tend to 104. 2 xs throw back bedridden, so sick 105. Y on forehead that takes forever 106. F from temple barely, by a hair 107. F down on nose very few 108. F tap chin soon 109. Time-gone run out of time 110. fours calling long list