The slow reverse crocodile hand

[VivienneDelacroix]

I will admit, I am a scroller and watch a fair bit of Instagram - mainly fashion and styling stuff. But I've noticed recently that in most of the videos I see (whether they are "influencers" or some tragic mum huns trying to be like them) there is a repeated gesture. They ALL seem to do it, and I've seen it creep into real life too. I'll try to describe it...
Imagine doing a crocodile snapping gesture in front of you face, but quite slowly. Then in one smooth movement you draw the closed crocodile off to the side. It seems to be used to emphasis what they are saying. But it's really odd, it's like a collective mannerism.

Has anyone else noticed this? Does it irritate you too? Do you think they're cool? Do they think they're cool? Or is it just me overly noticing something?

I know what you mean. It's a sort of closing a zip type emphasis. I've noticed students at school doing it as a result.

I am sitting in a cafe trying to do this with my hands while looking at my phone, to imagine what you mean. I look like a complete twat so I think the influencers must as well.

Me too 🤣🤣🤣

The food videos annoy me. They make a dish and then put a spoonful in their gobs followed by an over enthusiastic nod or a shoulder shuffle.

Sounds like it might be hand signals used in teaching, so people of a similar age and educational background all learned the same ones.

Are we doing this crocodile snap just with one hand? Not like, both arms...?

Is it one hand? Or two like mimicking a snapping crocodile in a children's story book/song?

I need to see this!

Yes! This .
It's just odd that it is everywhere.

hands up who else is trying this gesture?

[puts up hand]

I note from my observations that <checks notebook> this looks a lot like snakeneck clickyfinger slowed down <takes off spectacles>

One hand. Poster above described it as a zipping movement, that might be a better description. I'll find a video.

They do!

https://fb.watch/ogGHqZqHh4/

Not a great example but this is the only non friend I follow in FB and she does it sometimes. You can see a diluted version here.

Edited to add: I don't think that links to the video I tried to link.

This morning I saw a video about rightmove where the woman did loads of bizarre hand gestures- at 1st I thought she was doing a wind up "Hun" look at my home video but it was serious ! Very strange - I also think the way influencers twiddle their product/item from side to side is weird too. From make up to onions twiddle twiddle !

OMG! She is doing this in the rightmove video too !

vm.tiktok.com/ZGe1Pfd8v/

Yes this is it, at the beginning of the Right Move video. (I described it badly). But why are so many people doing it? Does no one have their own individual mannerisms anymore?

No but my six year old really enjoyed the Italian make over video 😂

More of a duck that a crocodile perhaps. But yes, highly irritating!

Erin does this constantly on MAFS and it really annoys me

I couldn't concentrate on the video, I was transfixed by her armpit height jeans. I think they were intended for someone taller.

Ahh yes I know exactly what you mean now! I have noticed this movement as well.

I was picturing a repetitive snapping hand croc motion😂

Hhmm yes.

Interesting...I might start a PhD thesis in this. It's like the take over of vocal fry, but a hand movement.
See also the long nails tapping on the box of a product. And the hand sweeping under the chin, a little like the throat cut gesture, but slightly higher and with a jaunty up-lift at the end.

I know I need to stop watching. I'm slightly worried I might catch it.

Haha yes, they all do it. To show off their nails.

Originated in the American South among African American drag queen culture to show off elaborate nails.

yes has definitley come from Drag Race et al. Highly irritating.