talk to the hand

English

Alternative forms

• talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listening, tell it to the hand

Interjection

talk to the hand

1. (colloquial, US, African-American Vernacular, chiefly sarcastic) Used to dismiss another person's argument by indicating that one is not prepared to hear or read anything further from that person. It is often used while simultaneously holding up the hand with the palm facing the speaker.
   • 1997, Todd Graff, The Beautician and the Beast, spoken by Joy Miller:

     Oh honey, talk to the hand, the ears ain't listening!

Verb

talk to the hand (third-person singular simple present talks to the hand, present participle talking to the hand, simple past and past participle talked to the hand)

1. (colloquial, US, African-American Vernacular, chiefly sarcastic) Used to dismiss another person's argument by indicating that one is not prepared to hear or read anything further from that person. It is often used while simultaneously holding up the hand with the palm facing the speaker.

   Girl, you can talk to the hand 'cause I ain't listenin' no more.

   • 2002, Ben Elton, High Society, Random House, published 2012, →ISBN, page 172:

     Tommy showed Tony the palm of his hand. ‘Tell it to the ’hand ’cos the face ain't listening.’

Translations

used to dismiss another person's argument

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 别烦，我不听

• Finnish: kiviäkin kiinnostaa, puhu johdolle, puhu pukille
• French: parle à ma main (fr)
• Portuguese: (Portugal) fala para a mão, (Brazil) fale com a mão
• Spanish: habla a la mano

See also

• whatever