Body Language of The Limp Fish Handshake

Body Language of The Limp Fish Handshake

No picCue: Limp Fish Handshake (The)

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: A handshake that has far too little pressure.

In One Sentence: The limpfish handshake indicates weakness.

How To Use it: This handshake is generally ill-advised unless one desires to demonstrate feigned weakness or feel that they can benefit from demonstrating real weakness. For example, feigning weakness can often garnering sympathy from others.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m weak of mind or body. I shake hands only weakly with far too little pressure.”

Variant: See Country Handshake (The), Cold Dead Wet Fish Handshake, Double Gripper Politician Handshake or Double Hander (The), Short Grabber/Finger Grabber Handshake, Oddball Handshake, Palm Up, Palm Down and Palm Even Handshakes, Stiff Arm And Thrust Forward Handshake, Death Grip Handshake, Wrench Forward Handshake, Undershaker Handshake, Wrist Hold Handshake, Wrist Hold Handshake and Upper Arm Grip Handshake, Limp Fish Handshake, Teacup Handshake, Arm Twister Handshake (The), Firm handshake, Fist Bumping.

Cue In Action: The baseball coach shook the hands of the girls on the other team at the end of the match and noticed that the best players had the firmest handshakes.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The limp fish handshake indicates a timid personality who feels that touching is a violation of personal space.

Conversely the limp fish shake can be done due to natural muscle weakness especially when done by the elderly or sick. When performed by healthy men and women it signifies weakness, timidity or shyness. Such a person will seem to be a pushover and be easily manipulated or at best not looking for a fight.

Cue Cluster: Expect to see other cues of timidity such as lack of eye contact, ventral denial, lowered head and shoulders.

Body Language Category: Disengagement, Low confidence body language, Low confidence hand displays, Nonthreatening body language, Shy nonverbal, Social touching.

Resources:

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