handwaving

handwaving

See also: hand-waving and hand waving

English

WOTD – 19 June 2011

Etymology

hand +‎ waving

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhandweɪvɪŋ/

Adjective

handwaving (comparative more handwaving, superlative most handwaving)

1. (not comparable) Waving the hands.
2. Pertaining to empty gesturing, with little substance behind it; vague.
   • 2001, Jeffrey Kluger, ‘Obesity’, Time, 15 Jan 2001:

     For years much of this has been explained with hand-waving references to body types and metabolism -- broadly accurate, but cold comfort to the estimated 61% of Americans who are overweight or obese and want to have their weight controlled, not merely explained.

Translations

waving the hands

Arabic: تَلْوِيح بِالْيَد‎ m (talwīḥ bi-l-yad)

Norwegian: gestikulerende

Noun

handwaving (countable and uncountable, plural handwavings)

1. (chiefly figuratively) Frantic or conspicuous gesturing (during an argument etc.), especially as contrasted with a lack of underlying substance or meaning; empty gesturing.
   • 2000, Time, letter, 21 Aug 2000:

     Protesters who demand that this brilliantly humane enterprise be stopped should have their motives questioned. Their protest is nothing but the mindless hand waving of Luddites.

   • 2009, ‘Squid Business’, The Economist, 3 Nov 2009:

     McClatchy goes on to try and level a damning critique, which amounts to a lot of handwaving about things we already know.

   • 2011, Andrew Brown, The Guardian, 17 Jun 2011:

     So when we're discussing thought and conscious processes, talking about minds is precise, and even measurable (what else do public opinion pollsters do?) while talking about brains is just hand-waving.

Translations

frantic or conspicuous gesturing

Arabic: تَلْوِيح بِالْيَد‎ m (talwīḥ bi-l-yad)

Hebrew: נפנופי־ידיים‎

Verb

handwaving

1. present participle of handwave