gang signs
Street affiliation symbols
Gang signs are hand gestures used by members of street gangs to identify themselves, communicate with allies, or challenge rivals.
The specific configurations of fingers represent particular gangs or affiliations.
Flashing gang signs can be a provocation leading to violence.
The term sometimes extends loosely to any hand gesture associated with urban or hip-hop culture: He threw up gang signs for the photo.
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
- affiliationFormal organizational connection
- gesturesExpressive body movements
thugs · recognition · street code · graffiti · hoodlums · communication · identity · intimidation · Crips · organized crime · flashing · hand gestures · criminal networks · territorial disputes · MS-13 · turf wars · urban crime · claiming
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- secret slangargot, cant, secret language, Cockney rhyming slang, prison slang
- subculture signalssecret handshakes, coded language, dog whistles, code words, tattoo symbols
- secret codescipher, secret code, secret codes, code word, password
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
- UnderworldHades, Tartarus, netherworld, Sheol, Styx
gang signsfriendly wave
peace sign · wave hello · thumbs up · handshake · high five
gang signspeace signs
V-shaped hand signals
thumbs up · handshakes · scout salute · military salute · high five
gang, sign, gangs, ganged, ganging, gangster, gangsters, signs, signed