fist bump: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “fist bump” mean?
A gesture of greeting, celebration, or agreement in which two people lightly tap their closed fists together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gesture of greeting, celebration, or agreement in which two people lightly tap their closed fists together.
A casual, modern alternative to a handshake or high-five, often implying camaraderie, solidarity, or mutual respect. Can also refer to the act of performing this gesture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and gesture are understood and used in both varieties. It may be perceived as slightly more American in origin due to its strong association with US sports and popular culture.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes informality, friendliness, and modern social interaction. In the UK, it might still carry a slight novelty or 'borrowed' feel compared to more traditional British greetings.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but common in UK English, especially among younger generations and in media-influenced contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fist bump” in a Sentence
[Subject] fist-bumps [Object][Subject] gives [Indirect Object] a fist bump[Subject] and [Subject] exchange fist bumpsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fist bump” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The players fist-bumped before the match.
- He leant over to fist-bump his teammate in celebration.
American English
- Let's fist-bump on the deal.
- The coach fist-bumped every player as they left the field.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb) They greeted each other fist-bump style.
American English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb) He congratulated her, sort of fist-bump-like.
adjective
British English
- It was a fist-bump moment after we solved the puzzle.
- They have a fist-bump relationship—very casual.
American English
- The meeting ended with a fist-bump agreement.
- He gave a fist-bump greeting to his new colleague.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in casual or creative business environments between colleagues, often after a successful meeting or small win. Avoid in very formal or traditional corporate settings.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. Might appear in sociological or cultural studies discussing modern interaction. Used informally between students.
Everyday
Common among friends, family, and in casual social situations as a greeting or sign of agreement.
Technical
Not a technical term. Could appear in human-computer interaction research discussing gesture-based interfaces.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fist bump”
- Using it in overly formal situations. Confusing it with a 'high five' (open palm). Hyphenation: 'fist-bump' as a verb, often 'fist bump' as a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it is commonly written as two words: 'fist bump'. As a verb, it is often hyphenated: 'to fist-bump'.
A fist bump uses closed fists tapped together, while a high five uses open palms slapped together. A fist bump is often seen as slightly more casual or modern.
While the gesture existed earlier, it entered mainstream global popularity in the 2000s, heavily popularised by basketball players and later by US President Barack Obama.
Yes, it is generally considered more hygienic than a handshake as there is less palm-to-palm contact, which contributed to its increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A gesture of greeting, celebration, or agreement in which two people lightly tap their closed fists together.
Fist bump is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Fist bump: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɪst ˌbʌmp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɪst ˌbʌmp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fist bump of solidarity”
- “A fist bump says it all”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your hand making a FIST, and you BUMP it gently against another fist. It's a bump with a fist.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL CONTACT IS SOCIAL CONNECTION; A GESTURE IS AN AGREEMENT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is a 'fist bump' LEAST appropriate?