Words / B1

JESCH-uh/ˈdʒestʃə/

A gesture is a hand or head movement that communicates, or an action that shows a feeling: a gesture of goodwill; an empty gesture. Sign is close for movements; token is close for weak symbolic acts. Do not call a full policy a gesture if it has real funding. UK politics: a goodwill gesture in talks.

Meaning

A movement of the hands or head that communicates; also an action that shows a feeling.

Examples

• “A pay freeze with a one-off bonus was seen as an empty gesture.”
• “She made a gesture for silence, which is the physical sense.”

Good to know

a gesture of goodwill; an empty / token gesture. Physical: a hand gesture. Close: sign. Weak act: token. Real policy is more than a gesture.

Near in meaning

sign

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