ASL signs with fingies that look like feetsies

September 23rd, 2019

High-heeled shoes hanging off index and middle fingers. — Photo by Andrew Tanglao on Unsplash

I'm learning American Sign Language (ASL), and I'm making a list of signs where the index and middle fingers represent legs. I find these signs are especially intuitive, and pretty cute, too. Let me know if you have any additions (or corrections) for this list.

#Anxious / restless / squirmy

The sign "SIT" can be modified to show someone squirming in their chair. This can be used to mean "anxiety" and similar concepts. This sign doesn't exactly mean nervous, it means "restless" or perhaps "ants in the pants."

Source: "anxious" at LifePrint

#Dance

Memory aid: Think of your feet gliding across the dance floor.

Source: "dance" at LifePrint

#Jump

The generic sign for jump is to use an upside down "V" to represent what it looks like when a person jumps

Source: "jump" at LifePrint

#Trampoline

Source: "trampoline" at HandSpeak

#Crawl

Source: "crawl" at HandSpeak

#Kneel

Source: "kneel" at HandSpeak

#Sit

The sign for "sit" uses a single motion. This is part of a noun/verb pair. If you use a double motion it means "chair."

Source: "sit" at LifePrint

#Stand

Source: "stand" at LifePrint

#Go to bed

Source: "go-to-bed" at LifePrint

#Get out of bed

Source: "get up" at HandSpeak

#Gymnastics

#Seizure (medical)

The sign "seizure" when referring to a person having a seizure, would generally be done using the lexicalized classifier: "SEIZURE." The handshape starts with the bent-V and rolls on the palm twice.

Source: "seizure" at LifePrint

#Walk to / walk up / hike to

Source: "walk" at LifePrint

#Elevator

A platform or compartment raised and lowered in a vertical shaft to transport people or freight to different floors or levels.

Regional variation: Canada and U.S. regions.

Source: "elevator" at HandSpeak

#Go up/down stairs

Source: "stairs" at LifePrint

#Intercourse

Source: "intercourse" at HandSpeak

#Lay down

Source: "lie, lay, lying down" at LifePrint

#Toss and turn

Source: "toss and turn" at HandSpeak

#Pole dance

This was shown to me at an ASL meetup, and may not be a standard sign. It's similar to the sign for mechanic, except the non-dominant hand points up to act as the pole.

#Climb (pole)

This was shown to me at an ASL meetup, and may not be a standard sign. It's similar to pole dance, except the V-hand climbs up the pole rather than swinging around it.

#Laid out / laid up / wasted physically / bedridden

Source: "laid out" at LifePrint

#Quit

The sign for "quit" is based on the idea of "getting out" of something. The sign starts with the dominant "H" hand (think of legs) inside the non-dominant "C"-hand. Then you pull the "H"-hand out of the "C"-hand.

Source: "quit" at LifePrint

#Ride (horse / motorcycle / vehicle / rollercoaster)

Source: "ride" at HandSpeak

#Ariel the little mermaid

This was taught to me by a Deaf ASL teacher in Vancouver, and may be a local sign. The index and middle fingers are put together and "swim" under the other hand which is flattened, then turns into "legs" and climbs up on the flat hand.