Meanings
plural quiet coyotes
- informalA hand gesture used in classrooms to get students' attention, where a person forms a coyote with their hand by placing their thumb and two middle fingers together, while raising their pointer and little fingers like ears; a non-verbal signal for students to stop talking, close their mouths, and listen to the teacher.
Synonyms: silent fox
present singular third person quiet coyotes · participle present quiet coyoting · participle past quiet coyoted · past quiet coyoted
- informalTo make or flash the quiet coyote hand gesture to request silence.
The teacher quiet coyoted the class.
- informalTo fall silent, adopt the pose, or comply with the quiet coyote gesture.
The kids quiet coyoted when the bell rang.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA hand gesture used in classrooms to get students' attention, where a person forms a coyote with their hand by placing their thumb and two middle fingers together, while raising their pointer and little fingers like ears; a non-verbal signal for students to stop talking, close their mouths, and listen to the teacher.
Cite this entry
quiet coyote. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quiet%20coyote
“quiet coyote.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quiet%20coyote. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “quiet coyote,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quiet%20coyote.
Source: quiet coyote on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.