Big up

A big up is a hand gesture similar to that of a hand shake which is exhibited between friends and even acquaintances. It was most likely developed, from the Thumbs up gesture, in the Caribbean but has become a common sight in the United States as well as the United Kingdom. The gesture of bigging up has also been seen in Japanese Anime.

How it is done

One person extends his hand outwards with a slight bend at the elbow (to AbOUT 35 degrees). The fist is closed and turned like a thumbs up but with the thumb down or retracted. The other person responds by doing the same and the two fists meet. In one variation of this gesture the, the fists May Be twisted on contact.

Other meanings

• Big up has also come to mean: "to give props to" or "to give kudos." It is common in the Caribbean to hear people call in on radio programs and say "I'd like to 'big up' my boy Shane" for example.
• On the Duke of Edinburgh's 80th Birthday, R&B Legend Lionel Richie said "Your Royal Highness on your 80th Birthday, there's only two very special words I would like to say to you "Big Up".

See also

• Greetings
• Handshake
• Thumbs up