How to authentically finger-clap
August 25, 2025
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1:16Now PlayingHow to authentically finger-clap
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as posted by the channelThe finger-clap has quietly taken over pop culture from Beyoncé’s stage to "Love Island." But this silent applause traces back to queer ballroom. Post reporter Samantha Chery shows us how to do it and why it matters.
The surge of tiny clapping has led to an endless debate on TikTok about the proper way to do it. Some insist finger claps should be silent and bristle at people who say “clock it” or “tea” while clapping. Others take issue with influencers who clap with their index finger, when the middle finger is more commonly used in ballroom. (If this seems pedantic, imagine the reaction if you used your middle finger to give a thumbsup.) And a notion has spread that the finger clap is supposed to resemble the American Sign Language sign for the number 8, because it means someone “ate,” or performed extremely well. (Ballroom folks say that’s a reach though.) Read moreSubscribe to The Washington Post on YouTube
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