The fist pump is a celebratory
gesture
A gesture is a form of nonverbal communication or non-vocal communication in which visible bodily actions communicate particular messages, either in place of, or in conjunction with, speech. Gestures include movement of the hands, face, or othe ...
involving a closed fist. The gesture has different permutations and meanings based on context of use.
Variations include a
fist
A fist is the shape of a hand when the fingers are bent inward against the palm and held there tightly. To make or clench a fist is to fold the fingers tightly into the center of the palm and then to clamp the thumb over the middle phalanges; i ...
that is raised before the torso and subsequently drawn down and nearer to the body in a vigorous, swift motion, often including an exclamation such as "Yes!" or a grunt.
[ Another variation is when the fist is raised in the air then pumped up and down, or punched in a circular boxing motion.][ It is commonly seen in sporting events after a success, such as scoring a difficult goal.
Though the fist pump is commonly used in the sporting world it is also seen in broader culture. The television show '']Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore, commonly called the Shore by locals, is the coast, coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The term encompasses about of shore, oceanfront bordering the Atlantic Ocean, from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Perth Amboy in the n ...
'' has been credited as helping to popularize an Italian-American influenced bro culture
Bro culture is an American subculture of young people (originally young men, hence "brother culture") who spend time partying with others like themselves. Although the original image of the bro lifestyle is associated with sports apparel and ...
dubbed 'fist pumping culture', characterized by "wolfish males—sometimes hunting in packs—getting ripped at the gym and making sure their haircuts and outfits are optimized for maximum courting potential".Rocky
''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...
'' movie heroically depicts the "Italian Stallion" pumping his fist in the air after running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at dawn. The closing scene of '' The Breakfast Club'', which has been called the "iconic last shot of the movie", shows Judd Nelson's non-conformist character pumping his fist in the air as he walks alone from an empty football stadium into the night. Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
did a fist pump moments after having been grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt at a rally.
Raymond Slater fist pumped for 17 hours and 15 minutes to establish what he and local news coverage believed to be a "world record" (there is no Guinness World Record
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...
for fist pumping). It was 15 minutes longer than the 17 hours of fist pumping previously done by James Peterson.
References
{{Gestures
Hand gestures