Body Language of Figure Four Seating Position (The) or The Ankle-Knee Cross

Body Language of Figure Four Seating Position (The) or The Ankle-Knee Cross

Cue: Figure Four Seating Position (The) or The Ankle-Knee Cross

Synonym(s): Ankle-Knee Cross (The)

Description: This body position occurs as one leg is bent, oriented horizontally and pulled over the opposite knee, to form the number four. The leg produces a figure four when viewed from above.

In One Sentence: The figure four leg cross is a dominant and authoritative posture meant to showcase the groin area.

How To Use it: Use the figure four leg cross to show that you are not afraid of being exposed to others but not crass enough for a full uncrossed leg posture. It is generally ill-advised for women to hold this posture as it is masculine in nature, however, in some circles, it can be seen as acceptable but only if pants are worn. It is most certainly is not advisable for women to hold the posture with skirts or dresses of any kind.

The posture finds a welcome place in business and dating where men are working to assert their dominance over others. The figure four is even acceptable amongst friends and is a more tolerated dominance display than is legs uncrossed.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m feeling good about myself. I’m dominant, authoritative, and not afraid to put my genitals on display – but not totally be spreading my legs apart – I still need a bit of a shield.”

Variant: See Figure Four Leg Clamp or Figure Four Leg Lock.

Cue In Action: People knew the guy was arrogant and smug. He’d sit there with his arms up against the back of his head ‘hooding’, with his legs cross ankle over knee leaning backward in his chair. Even when the boss was around, he wouldn’t drop the posture.

Meaning and/or Motivation: It is more or less an open posture and should be taken as a mild version of the crotch display since the legs are open. This posture is milder because it doesn’t fully expose the crotch since one leg partially blocks the genitals from view.

Women aren’t normally seen in this posture, but since wearing pants have become more popular recently, it does tend to happen more often than it has in the recent past. When performed by women, it is as an attempt to be one of the boys. The figure four tells us that a person is relaxed and youthful, (mature gentlemen are seen with a full leg cross, or European Leg Cross where the legs end up parallel to one another) and dominant.

Cue Cluster: The figure four leg cross can be accompanied by the hooding posture or the leg clamp by placing the hand on the ankle or shin to show even more stubbornness.

Body Language Category: Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Body cross, Blocking or Shielding, Confident body language, Dominant body language, Expansive movements, Open body language, Crotch display.

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