Words / B2

HANDSH-ayk/ˈhændʃeɪk/

A handshake is taking someone’s right hand and shaking it as a greeting or agreement: a firm handshake; handshake agreement. Greeting is broader; a contract is written. A handshake sealed nothing until the contract was signed. Mix-up: handsome; hands-on. Do not write handshake for a written treaty with no hands in the source.

Meaning

The act of taking someone’s right hand and shaking it as a greeting or agreement.

Examples

• “A handshake sealed nothing until the contract was signed, the business source said.”
• “A firm handshake featured in the etiquette extract, which is the greeting sense.”

Good to know

a firm / brief handshake; a handshake agreement. Broader: greeting. Stronger proof: contract. Trap: handsome. Business, citizenship, and orals. Greeting or informal agreement by shaking hands, not a statute.

Near in meaning

greeting, clasp

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