noun a pair of quotation marks made in the air with one's fingers to indicate that the enclosed text should be understood as being ironic or otherwise non-literal
In linguistics, 'air quotes' are used to indicate that a word or phrase is being used in a non-literal or ironic sense.
In communication, 'air quotes' are often used to emphasize sarcasm or irony in spoken language.
On social media, 'air quotes' are sometimes used in written posts to convey a similar sense of irony or sarcasm as in spoken language.
In pop culture, 'air quotes' are commonly used by characters in movies, TV shows, and comedy sketches to highlight a particular word or phrase.
A writer may use air quotes when quoting someone else in their writing to indicate that the words are not their own or to convey a sense of irony or skepticism.
A psychologist may use air quotes when discussing certain psychological concepts or terms to show that they are using the terminology in a specific or technical way.
A teacher may use air quotes when explaining a concept that they want to emphasize or clarify, such as a key term or a controversial idea.
A lawyer may use air quotes when quoting from a legal document or when discussing a specific legal term to highlight its importance or to indicate that it has a specific legal meaning.
A journalist may use air quotes when quoting a source or when reporting on a controversial statement to show that they are presenting the information as it was given to them.