Pronunciation: /hændweɪv/

Definitions of handwave

noun a gesture or movement of the hand, especially one made to emphasize or express something

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a magician do a handwave and make a rabbit appear.

A2 The wizard used a handwave to cast a spell on the castle.

B1 The scientist's theory was dismissed as a handwave by his peers.

B2 The politician's explanation was met with skepticism as it seemed like a handwave.

C1 The CEO's decision to cut costs was seen as a handwave solution to the company's financial problems.

C2 The expert's analysis revealed that the government's policy was merely a handwave to appease the public.

verb to make a gesture or movement with the hand, especially to emphasize or express something

Example Sentences

A1 She handwaves goodbye to her friends as she leaves the party.

A2 The teacher handwaves the correct answer to the student's question.

B1 He tends to handwave important details in his presentations, which can be confusing.

B2 The manager handwaves the new policy changes, without considering the impact on employees.

C1 Some politicians have a tendency to handwave complex issues instead of addressing them directly.

C2 It is important for researchers to avoid handwaving results and provide detailed explanations for their findings.

Examples of handwave in a Sentence

formal The scientist used a handwave to simplify the explanation for the general audience.

informal She just handwaved the whole situation and didn't give us any details.

slang He always handwaves his responsibilities and expects others to pick up the slack.

figurative The politician's promises were nothing but handwaves, with no real plans for implementation.

Grammatical Forms of handwave

past tense

handwaved

plural

handwaves

comparative

more handwave

superlative

most handwave

present tense

handwaves

future tense

will handwave

perfect tense

have handwaved

continuous tense

is handwaving

singular

handwave

positive degree

handwave

infinitive

to handwave

gerund

handwaving

participle

handwaved

Origin and Evolution of handwave

First Known Use: 1958 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'handwave' originated from the gesture of waving one's hand to dismiss or minimize something.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in a literal sense to describe the action of waving one's hand, 'handwave' has evolved to also mean dismissing or glossing over a topic without giving it much thought or consideration.