Talk to the Hand: The 1990s Masterclass in Dismissal
Summary: A perfect storm of attitude and gesture—instant refusal without a word.
In this post:
- What “talk to the hand” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1990s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “talk to the hand” mean?
“Talk to the hand” shut down conversation, often with a raised palm gesture.
How it was used in the 1990s
Comedy and teen TV amplified it: “Talk to the hand, ’cause the face ain’t listening.”
Modern equivalents
• nope
• not listening
• whatever