Sleight of Hand

Reba said:
Calling a spade a spade.
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Good Reba! Try this one.

Sign: Story, chicken, steer (as in male cow)

Meaning: a very strange and likely untrue tale
 
Ha ha ha. After reading it twenty times, it hit me: "A cock and bull story."
 
This idiom is three words in English but is an old deafie idiom using one sign. It means averting something by a narrow margin or having a very close encounter.

With a thumb and forefinger, the signer plucks an imaginary strand from the hairline and holds it out to you.
 
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Chase said:
This idiom is three words in English but is an old deafie idiom using one sign. It means averting something by a narrow margin or having a very close encounter.

With a thumb and forefinger, the signer plucks an imaginary strand from the hairline and holds it out to you.
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The only thing I can think of is "a close shave" but that doesn't fit the sign?
 
It means the same thing in different words. In this old deafie sign, an imaginary hair is held up for the viewer.
 
Right, Fredfam; the complete ASL for this, visually, is the plucking with the index finger and thumb of a single strand of hair...with the commensurate facial expression, of course, lol.
 
Tousi said:
Right, Fredfam; the complete ASL for this, visually, is the plucking with the index finger and thumb of a single strand of hair...with the commensurate facial expression, of course, lol.
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OK this has given me an idea to add to this game, since I want to learn ASL idoms as well. This will allow the fluent ASL signers to participate. When a fluent ASL signer gets one of the English signs then it is their turn to tell us an ASL idiom. Describe how to sign it. Tell us the meaning with out useing the words for the signs and see if we can figure out the ASL idom. Whose first?
 
Chase said:
"By a hair" is the old deafie sign from way back when. Congratulations. Your turn to dazzle us.
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How about Tousi gives us an ASL idom. Don't forget to provide the meaning but
not using words that would give it away.
 
fredfam1 said:
How about Tousi gives us an ASL idom. Don't forget to provide the meaning but
not using words that would give it away.
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Till Tousi gets back here is another English Idiom:

sign: springtime, crazy, rabbit

Meaning:Someone who is excitable and unpredictable
 
From Through the Looking Glass, a March hare?
 
fredfam1 said:
Tousi are you ready to give us an ASL idiom?
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Here's a filler while we wait for Tousi.

Sign: My, words,
Then: draw a check on the palm of your hand

What is the English Idiom that means:
Give special attention to the things I have said because very soon it will be proven they are true.
 
fredfam1 said:
Here's a filler while we wait for Tousi.

Sign: My, words,
Then: draw a check on the palm of your hand

What is the English Idiom that means:
Give special attention to the things I have said because very soon it will be proven they are true.
Click to expand...


Mark my words?
 
This four-word idiom is really two-words said twice. It means “nothing new, different, or exciting happening.”

1. Both index fingers pointing outward are brought side-by-side.

2. The closed right hand strokes an imaginary beard at the chin.

3. Repeat 1 and 2.
 
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