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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage

GESTURE: winking=meaning?

I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was about tapping on the nose, for those who missed it, and it produced interesting and humorous responses).
My question is still to do with communicating "but this is a secret don't tell it to anyone; keep it secret; it's just for you and me, etc". Would you BLINK meaningfully to suggest it? If so which eye would it be: left, right, both? Would you look serious to that, or smile?
Thanx in advance.
#:-)
gps
  

Top answer

"#:-) gps [nq:1]I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was ... it to anyone; keep it secret; it's just for you and me, etc". [/nq] Blinking is the rapid opening and closing of both eyes simultaneously.

  • "#:-) gps [nq:1]I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was ...
  • it to anyone; keep it secret; it's just for you and me, etc".
  • [/nq] Blinking is the rapid opening and closing of both eyes simultaneously.
  • It has nothing to do with communicating secrets.
  • The most common uses of intentional blinking are to suggest confusion and to flirt.
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21 Answers
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"#:-) gps
[nq:1]I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was ... it to anyone; keep it secret; it's just for you and me, etc". Would you BLINK meaningfully to suggest it?[/nq]
Blinking is the rapid opening and closing of both eyes simultaneously. It has nothing to do with communicating secrets. The most common uses of intentional
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[nq:1]I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was ... and me, etc". Would you BLINK meaningfully to suggest it? If so which eye would it be: left, right, both?[/nq]
One eye, and then we call it a "wink." It could be on either side, probably on the side that the intended person could see and other people could not.
[nq:1]Would yo
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I agree, and because of its common non-serious use (sometimes equivalent to putting one's tongue in one's cheek) I don't think I'd use a wink to show someone I wanted them to keep a secret. Instead I'd used the aforementioned nose-tap or lips-tap, or waggle my index finger in front of my closed mouth.

A wink can also just be an affectionate gesture with little or no meaning.

Adri
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[nq:1]I tried it once with the folks here, let me try again with a different gesture (the previous question was ... suggest it? If so which eye would it be: left, right, both? Would you look serious to that, or smile?[/nq]
What I would do is this:
After establishing eye contact with my interlocutor, I would look to right and left, as if to make sure no one was close enough to listen, then
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[nq:2]I tried it once with the folks here, let me ... right, both? Would you look serious to that, or smile?[/nq]
[nq:1]What I would do is this: After establishing eye contact with my interlocutor, I would look to right and left, ... listen, then say the secret, and then place the side of my index finger vertically in front of my lips.[/nq]
Not only 'in front of my lips' but touching or ne
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Robert Lieblich wrote (in part; about blinking v. winking):
[nq:1]The most common uses of intentional blinking are to suggest confusion and to flirt.[/nq]
Bob Lieblich
Blinking furiously
So, are you confused or are you flirting?
(You knew someone would ask.)
Maria Conlon
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Robert Lieblich wrote (in part; about blinking v. winking):
[nq:1]The most common uses of intentional blinking are to suggest confusion and to flirt.[/nq]
Bob Lieblich
Blinking furiously
So, are you confused or are you flirting?
(You knew someone would ask.)
Maria Conlon
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My use of "blink" includes blinking of one eye: for example if a bit of leaf or a bug flew into an eyelash.
Of course, blinking both eyes at once is more common. A wink is different: it is slower, intentional and can stay a bit at the closed position instead of bouncing up like a blink does.

Richard Maurer To reply, remove half
Sunnyvale, California of a
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[nq:1]Robert Lieblich wrote (in part; about blinking v. winking):[/nq]
[nq:2]The most common uses of intentional blinking are to suggest confusion and to flirt.[/nq]
[nq:1]Bob Lieblich Blinking furiously So, are you confused or are you flirting? (You knew someone would ask.)[/nq]
If, after I've spent almost seven years here wallowing in constant confusion, there are still one or two lo
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[nq:2]Robert Lieblich wrote (in part; about blinking v. winking): Bob ... confused or are you flirting? (You knew someone would ask.)[/nq]
[nq:1]If, after I've spent almost seven years here wallowing in constant confusion, there are still one or two loyalists who ... have not been entirely in vain. (No, I don't know what I mean either.) With you, Tootsie, it's always flirting.[/nq]
Would y

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