talk to the hand

1. UScolloquialdatedsarcasticAfrican-American VernacularUsed to dismiss another person's argument by indicating that one is not prepared to hear or read anything further from that person. It is often used while simultaneously holding up the hand with the palm facing the speaker.

   Oh honey, talk to the hand, the ears ain't listening!

   1997, Todd Graff, The Beautician and the Beast, spoken by Joy Miller

   2 more examples

   Tommy showed Tony the palm of his hand. ‘Tell it to the ’and ’cos the face ain't listening.’

   2002, Ben Elton, High Society, Random House, published 2012, →ISBN, page 172

   T-850 (Arnold Schwarzenegger): Your clothes. / Stripper (Jimmy Snyder): Talk to the hand! / T-850: Now.

   2003, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (motion picture), Jimmy Snyder (actor)

   Synonyms: talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listening, tell it to the hand

present singular third person talks to the hand · participle present talking to the hand · participle past talked to the hand · past talked to the hand

1. UScolloquialdatedsarcasticAfrican-American VernacularUsed to dismiss another person's argument by indicating that one is not prepared to hear or read anything further from that person. It is often used while simultaneously holding up the hand with the palm facing the speaker.

   Girl, you can talk to the hand 'cause I ain't listenin' no more.

   3 more examples

   Of all the hand gestures used by Men and women, "talking to the hand” is a gesture that should be exclusively used by women. There isn't anything Manly by making somebody "talk to the hand."

   2012, Joseph Greene, The ComMANdments; The Official Guide Book to Man Rules, page 161

   After his initial reaction and suggestion that she go write a song based on talking to the hand, she played him what she'd come up with, and he responded with his typically laconic "cool," suggesting they put some hand claps here and there and perhaps a minor chord in the verse to make it a bit jangly.

   2016, Donald Brackett, Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece

   Canceling someone started out in the same way that talking to the hand did, a joke.

   2022, Kelly Mitchell, Clap if You Can Hear Me