sign of the horns
Rock concert gesture
The sign of the horns is a hand gesture made by extending the index and pinky fingers while holding down the middle and ring fingers with the thumb.
In heavy metal culture, it signals enthusiasm or solidarity—fans flash it at concerts, musicians throw it from stage.
The gesture has older meanings in Mediterranean cultures, where it wards off evil or suggests cuckoldry.
Also called devil horns, metal horns, or throwing the horns: The crowd threw up the sign of the horns when the band hit the stage.
Second digit, first to point
- pinky fingerHand's smallest outer digit
- fistTightly closed hand
- nonverbalNot using speech
- saluteGestural sign of honor
acknowledgment · solidarity · greeting · communication · body language · symbolic · iconic · universal
Open resistance to authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- anti-establishmentOpposing dominant institutions
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
subversion · outsider · provocative · transgressive · attitude · boldness · resistance · dissent
Harm-dealing gaze, supposedly
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wardProtected person; division
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
folk belief · amulet · charm · Mediterranean · Italian · bad luck · omen · jinx
Aggressive amplified rock genre
- headbangingViolent rhythmic skull movement
- mosh pitAggressive dancing crowd area
- rock concertAmplified band performance
- guitar soloUnaccompanied string passage
riff · thrash · shred · Ozzy · metalhead · stage dive · amplifier · festival
Austin university athletics program
- rallyGathering for a cause
- fanAdmirer or air mover
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
- cheerJoyfulness or encouragement
team spirit · mascot · college football · crowd · game day
index finger
Second digit, first to point
- pinky fingerHand's smallest outer digit
- fistTightly closed hand
- nonverbalNot using speech
salute · acknowledgment · solidarity · greeting · communication · body language · symbolic · iconic · universal · recognizable
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- anti-establishmentOpposing dominant institutions
punk · subversion · outsider · provocative · transgressive · attitude · boldness · resistance · dissent · iconoclasm
evil eye
Harm-dealing gaze, supposedly
- protectionGuarding against harm
- wardProtected person; division
- curseInvoked harm through words
hex · folk belief · amulet · charm · Mediterranean · Italian · bad luck · omen · jinx · blessing
heavy metal
Aggressive amplified rock genre
- headbangingViolent rhythmic skull movement
- mosh pitAggressive dancing crowd area
- rock concertAmplified band performance
guitar solo · riff · thrash · shred · Ozzy · metalhead · stage dive · amplifier · festival · band
Texas Longhorns
Austin university athletics program
cheer · team spirit · mascot · college football · crowd · game day
sign of the hornspeace sign
Gesture symbolizing nonviolence
V sign · thumbs up · heart hands · wave · high five
sign of the hornssign of the cross
Christian devotional gesture
mudra · benediction · papal blessing · hamsa · laying on of hands
sign, signs, signed, signing, signer, signal, signage, signature, signify