thefreedictionary.com - Handshakes Out, Fist Bumps and High-Fives In?

Erika P. (Brazil)
The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead. Shaking hands transfers 10 times more bacteria than fist bumping, while high-fiving falls somewhere between the two on the bacterial transfer spectrum. Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
24 words 6 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. preferred
    more desirable than another
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  2. gesture
    motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  3. congratulate
    say something to someone that expresses praise
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  4. culture
    all the knowledge and values shared by a society
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  5. some
    quantifier
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  6. interest
    a sense of concern with and curiosity about something
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  7. health
    the general condition of body and mind
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  8. grip
    hold fast or firmly
    The handshake has been the preferred gesture of greeting, parting, congratulating, thanking, and sealing a deal in many cultures for some time now, but, in the interest of health, it may be time to loosen our grip on the handshake and take up "pounding it" or high-fiving instead.
  9. transfer
    move from one place to another
    Shaking hands transfers 10 times more bacteria than fist bumping, while high-fiving falls somewhere between the two on the bacterial transfer spectrum.
  10. bacteria
    single-celled organisms that can cause disease
    Shaking hands transfers 10 times more bacteria than fist bumping, while high-fiving falls somewhere between the two on the bacterial transfer spectrum.
  11. bacterial
    relating to single-celled microorganisms
    Shaking hands transfers 10 times more bacteria than fist bumping, while high-fiving falls somewhere between the two on the bacterial transfer spectrum.
  12. spectrum
    a broad range of related objects, values, or qualities
    Shaking hands transfers 10 times more bacteria than fist bumping, while high-fiving falls somewhere between the two on the bacterial transfer spectrum.
  13. option
    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  14. completely
    with everything necessary
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  15. sterile
    incapable of reproducing
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  16. prompt
    according to schedule or without delay
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  17. infection
    the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  18. control
    power to direct or determine
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  19. expert
    a person with special knowledge who performs skillfully
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  20. suggestion
    an idea that is proposed
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  21. reinstate
    bring back into original existence, function, or position
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  22. thereby
    by that means or because of that
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  23. eliminate
    end, take out, or do away with
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
  24. contact
    the act of touching physically
    Still, none of these options is completely sterile, prompting one infection control expert to make the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we reinstate bowing and curtsying, thereby eliminating hand contact entirely.
Created on Tue Jul 29 07:20:54 EDT 2014

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.