Left-handed handshake (2024)

Left-handed handshake (1)

A Left handed handshake, or sometimes refered to and known as Scout handshake, is a handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp one of each other's left hands, and most cases accompanied by a brief up and down movement of the grasped hands.


The most popular specific use of the left-handed handshake is the coined Scout Handshake. Scouts across the world all greet each other with a left-handed handshake and that it is a sign of trust and friendship. [1]

The left-handed Scout handshake is a formal way of greeting other Scouts of both genders used by members of Scout and Guide organizations around the world when greeting other Scouts. The handshake is made with the hand nearest the heart and is offered as a token of friendship. In most situations, the handshake is made firmly, without interlocking fingers, and many organizations only use this handshake when both people are in uniform. There are some variations of the handshake between national Scouting organizations and also within some program sections.

Meaning of the left-hand[]

Various sources have attributed the origin of the handshake, as an ancient sign of bravery and respect, to Lord Baden-Powell's encounter after battle with Prempeh I, or to earlier published works by Ernest Thompson Seton. There exist various versions of the Prempeh story, all centering around African warriors using the left hand to hold their shields and to lower it and shake the left hand of the person was to show they trusted each other.

According to the Ashanti warrior version of the story, then-Colonel Baden-Powell saluted them with his right hand, but the Ashanti chiefs offered their left hands and said, "In our land only the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left hand, because to do so we must drop our shields and our protection." The Ashantis knew of Baden-Powell's bravery because they had fought against him and with him, and they were proud to offer the left hand of bravery. The left hand is also closer to the heart, with that attendant symbology.

The term itself was used as the title of a work by Hilary Saint George Saunders, The Left Handshake: The Boy Scout Movement during the War, 1939-1945, because of the extraordinary courage shown during those times. According to the foreword by British Chief Scout Lord Rowallan,

When Colonel Baden-Powell entered the capital city of the Ashanti people in 1890 he was met by one of the Chiefs who came to him holding out his left hand. B.-P. held out his right in return but the Chief said: "No, in my country the bravest of the brave shake with the left hand." So began the "left handshake" of the world-wide brotherhood of Scouts. In this book are told some of the stories of courage and endurance shown by Scouts in many different countries during the war of 1939-45. There would not be room even in many books to tell them all. Many, indeed, can never be told; some for political reasons, some because the actors died unknown. They remembered their Promise, to do their best to do their duty to God, and their Country; to think of other people and not themselves. So, when the time came, they were prepared in body and in spirit to render their service. Their record is unsurpassed; they were "the bravest of the brave."

The girl guides and scouts are used this type of handshake.

References[]

  • Walter Hansen (in German):Der Wolf, der nie schläft-Das abenteuerliche Leben des Lord Baden-Powell, published by Herder Freiburg-Basel-Vienna, 1985, p.162 (Gruß, Pfiff und System der kleinen Gruppe) and p.124, p.126/27 (Die Krobos:Geheimbund an der Goldküste).

External links[]

Left-handed handshake (2024)

FAQs

What does a left-handed handshake mean? ›

In fact, colloquially across the United States, the term “left-handed handshake” is considered an insult and refers to insincere promises. Sources: Emily Post Etiquette: “Passing Food at the Table”

What is the answer to the handshake problem? ›

Brian McCall. # handshakes = n*(n - 1)/2. This is because each of the n people can shake hands with n - 1 people (they would not shake their own hand), and the handshake between two people is not counted twice. This formula can be used for any number of people.

Is it OK to shake hands with your left hand? ›

Always offer your right hand for a handshake, unless there is an obvious reason why you should use your left, e.g. if either party's right hand is injured. Also, if your palm is damp, pat it down as discreetly as possible because no one wants to grab a sweaty hand.

Why you shouldn't shake with your left hand? ›

When shaking hands, offering a gift, giving or receiving something, eating, pointing or touching someone, among other things, it is considered proper etiquette to only use the right hand. Using the left hand can be seen as impolite and offensive.

What's so special about left handers? ›

Lefties make up only about 10 percent of the population, but studies find that individuals who are left-handed score higher when it comes to creativity, imagination, daydreaming and intuition. They're also better at rhythm and visualization.

Why do we only shake with the right hand? ›

Shaking hands, which is traditionally done with your right hand, became a friendly greeting because it was proof that you came in peace and weren't holding a weapon. It was also a sign of trust that you believed the other person wasn't going to take their sword out to fight you either!

What does a weak handshake say about you? ›

Limp fish: Opposite the bone crusher is the limp fish—a limp handshake that signals that you are nervous, uncertain, or uninvolved to the other person. A limp handshake can be particularly detrimental in professional settings.

What are three things a handshake should not be? ›

Here Are the 20 Do's And Don'ts
  • DO shake people's hands! ...
  • DON'T hand anyone your sweaty or greasy hand. ...
  • DO stand up. ...
  • DON'T give a “limp fish” handshake. ...
  • DO give a firm grip. ...
  • DON'T overdo it, though… ...
  • DO respect authority and age. ...
  • DON'T use two hands.
2 Apr 2018

What is the 6 handshake rule? ›

Six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It is also known as the six handshakes rule.

What is rule of handshake? ›

Always be prepared for a handshake by making sure your right hand is always free to shake hands. Shift anything you are carrying to your left hand—particularly cold drinks which can make your hands feel cold and clammy. Never shake hands with your left hand in your pocket. Both hands should be visible.

Do British people shake with left hand? ›

There are also other times when shaking hands is suitable when saying goodbye, but again Brits tend not to do so with very large groups of people or with people they often see. Perhaps to make the process more predictable, British people almost always shake with their right hands.

What left handers are good at? ›

They are usually good at sports when in a one-on-one face-off. In games like baseball, boxing, fencing and tennis, left-handers often have an edge over their right-handed opponents who are used to playing with right-handed players mostly.

Should you shake right or left-handed? ›

Which Hand Should You Use? Most people and cultures will use the right hand for a handshake unless they have a specific reason to use the left, such as injury. If you would like to shake hands with a person who only has a left hand, then obviously, use your left as well.

Why are left-handers angry? ›

It's been known for some time that lefties and the ambidextrous are more prone to negative emotions. The new study shows that they also have a greater imbalance in activity between the left and right brains when they process emotions.

Do left-handers have higher IQ? ›

The idea that left-handed people are more intelligent than right-handers is a myth. There have been lefty geniuses in history like Leonardo da Vinci, but this is not part of a larger pattern. If anything, the opposite is true.

Why left-handed is rare? ›

In fact, one of the more unusual hypotheses to explain the rarity of left-handedness is that a genetic mutation in our distant past caused the language centres of the human brain to shift to the left hemisphere, effectively causing right-handedness to dominate, Alasdair Wilkins explains for io9 back in 2011.

What religion does not shake hands? ›

The candidate's religion, Islam, prohibited him from shaking hands (or otherwise physically interacting) with women to whom he was not related or married.

What kind of body language goes best with a handshake? ›

Offer your hand with your palm facing sideways. When a person offers his hand with the palm faced upwards, it is considered to be a submissive gesture. Conversely, when someone offers his hand with the palm faced downwards (or twists his hand downward during the handshake) it sends a message of superiority.

What's a wet handshake? ›

2. The wet shake. The single most efficient way to make a very bad first impression is offering a cold, wet handshake. Always hold your beverage in your left hand and keep your right hand free for handshaking, especially during networking events.

What are the 3 rules of the handshake? ›

DO's
  • Maintain eye contact and smile. Maintaining eye contact and smiling shows that you're friendly and interested in the other person. ...
  • Have a firm grip. A good handshake comes from the elbow not the shoulder, with the wrist and forearm remaining firm. ...
  • Keep it short.

What is a submissive handshake? ›

2. Submissive Handshake. The palm up gesture is used to show submission to others to offer your hand with the palm facing upwards. This is particularly effective when you want to give the other person control or allow him to feel that he is in command of the situation.

Where is a handshake disrespectful? ›

For instance in some countries and cultures, firm handshakes are seen as rude and a sign of aggression. In places such as China; the Middle East; North, Southern and West Africa; and South America, handshakes are usually lighter and last much longer than in Western countries.

Who should shake hands first? ›

But who should shake hands first? When meeting a higher-ranking person in a business context, wait briefly for that person to extend their hand first. In all other situations, step up and be the one to initiate a handshake. Do not miss this powerful opportunity to physically connect with another person.

What kind of handshake makes you a professional? ›

Your handshake should be firm, but not overly so. Don't pinch or squeeze the other person's palms. The ideal handshake will be comfortable and match the grip pressure of the other person.

Why is there no 2 way handshake? ›

Particularly, the two-way handshake presents potential problems when the ACK message from the server delays too much. Thus, if a connection timeout occurs, the client sends another SYN message with a new sequence number (Z, for example) to the server.

How many ways 10 people can shake hands? ›

Total number of handshakes = 10C2 = (10 × 9)/2 = 45 handshakes. When 10 people are shaking hands, each one will shake hands with 9 others. The total number of handshakes in actual = 90/2 = 45 handshakes.

How many ways can 12 people shake hands? ›

The total number of handshakes is the same as the number of ways of selecting 2 persons among 12 persons, i.e., 2. Hence, If there are 12 persons at a party and each of them shakes hands with each other, then the number of handshakes in the party is 66.

What are 5 characteristics of a good handshake? ›

The qualities of a good handshake

They concluded to make a good first impression the handshake had to be strong, long, warm, dry, vigorous, with a complete grip and sustained eye contact.

Is it rude to shake with your left hand in India? ›

Rule one is: eat with your right hand only. In India, as right across Asia, the left hand is for wiping your bottom, cleaning your feet and other unsavoury functions (you also put on and take off your shoes with your left hand), while the right hand is for eating, shaking hands and so on.

What is considered rude in England? ›

It is considered very rude to push ahead in a line. Do not shout or be loud in public places and don't use excessive, demonstrative hand gestures when speaking. Staring is considered impolite. Do not be too casual, especially with the English language.

What is a left-handed person called? ›

Sometimes people who are left-handed are called “Southpaws”.

Do lefties think differently? ›

“Most left-handers seem to have similar language processing to right-handers,” Grimshaw says. For other one-sided brain functions, such as attention, emotion, music, and face perception, she says, there are less data. “But for the most part, left-handers do not differ obviously from right-handers.

What is the personality of a left-handed person? ›

“When we're left-handed, our right brains are usually dominant, and that's where creativity and intuition are centered. So it's often easier for us to be creative than logical.

Where do people shake with their left hand? ›

It comes from Ashanti warriors Baden-Powell met in West Africa. The May-June 1973 issue of Scouting magazine gives this anecdote: “The left handshake comes to us from the Ashanti warriors whom Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, knew over 70 years ago in West Africa.

What does the slang left-handed mean? ›

: clumsy, awkward. : insincere, backhanded, dubious.

What does left hand nut mean? ›

Left hand nuts look like regular nuts but are threaded opposite of "standard" (right-hand) nuts. Consequently, turn them counterclockwise to install and tighten. Often abbreviated "LH" for left-hand, use left hand nuts with left hand threaded bolts, screws, studs and threaded rod.

What does the left hand side mean? ›

The left-hand side (LHS) refers to the bid price in a forex quotation, since the bid price appears on the left in a two-way price quote and the offer on the right. The bid price is the highest price someone is willing to buy the base currency or the price at which a seller can sell the base currency in the market.

What does it mean when someone says they are left-handed? ›

adjective. Someone who is left-handed uses their left hand rather than their right hand for activities such as writing and sports and for picking things up.

What is the nickname for a left-handed person? ›

The “American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language” cites the conventional wisdom that the word “southpaw” originated “from the practice in baseball of arranging the diamond with the batter facing east to avoid the afternoon sun.

Is left-handed compliment a thing? ›

A left-handed compliment is a criticism couched as a compliment, a compliment with two meanings, one of which is unflattering to the receiver. It is also known as a backhanded compliment. Examples: You are very competent for someone so inexperienced.

Why is it rare to be left-handed? ›

In fact, one of the more unusual hypotheses to explain the rarity of left-handedness is that a genetic mutation in our distant past caused the language centres of the human brain to shift to the left hemisphere, effectively causing right-handedness to dominate, Alasdair Wilkins explains for io9 back in 2011.

How do you tell if a nut is left-handed? ›

Screw handedness refers to the direction that a screw's thread wraps around its shaft. Right-handed threads run clockwise, and left-handed threads run counterclockwise.

What is reverse nut? ›

Left hand threaded nuts, also known as reverse nuts, are not suited for standard bolts. They are installed by spinning counter-clockwise and are used with left-hand threaded bolts, screws, and rods.

Are left hand nuts marked? ›

The left-hand thread screw connections, e.g. hex nuts, are always marked with a notch (see figure links). This is standardised and anchored in the DIN EN 15202 as follows for liquid gas cylinders: “The corners of the hex nuts with left-hand threads must bear a notch for better recognition (e.g. a 60°-V notch). “

Which is better left hand or right? ›

Most people would say that steering needs more control, which means that it's better to keep your dominant hands on the wheel. In this case, right-handers are probably at an advantage, as left-handers have to adapt to steering with their weaker hands. In the case of manual driving, then, being right-handed wins!

Which hand is dominant right or left? ›

Right-handedness is by far more common; about 90% of the human population are right hand dominant. Left-handed people make up 8-9% of the population. Ambidextrious people make up 1% of the population. And finally, cross-dominant (mixed-handed) people make up less than 1% of the population.

What percentage of people are left-handed? ›

-Counting how many people are left-handed is more difficult than it looks, because of variations in preference and skill from task to task and because of left-handers having been forced to write with their right hand, but the best estimate we have is that roughly 10% of the world population is left-handed.

What part of the brain do left handers use? ›

Specifically, in left-handers, the motor cortex in the right side of the brain (the left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain, and vice versa) is dominant for fine motor behavior. In contrast, in right-handers, the left motor cortex is better at fine motor tasks such as writing.

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