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[-] Linktank@lemmy.today 31 points 1 month ago

"She shook her head yes"

This line is all you need to see to know that this person is a moron or a lunatic.

You don't shake your head to say yes.

[-] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

some cultures do, just not ours

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

Some people use that phrase to mean “nod”. It’s the same action just a different direction.

[-] 5wim@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 month ago

And their point is that they are wrong to do so.

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It’s not great phrasing I agree… but it is a common way to describe it.

It’s the action that matters not the description.

If “she” (not clear who) moved her head back and forth in a vertical rotation, it doesn’t matter if you call it “shook her head yes” or “nodded”. The meaning is the same.

If she moved her head back and forth in a horizontal rotation and this person interpreted that as a “yes”, then that is insanity.

[-] 5wim@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

It's just not the accepted and used English for those actions. If it was something like "rotated" then it would be ambiguous and subject to interpretation, but the word "shook" already has a meaning

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

So it sounds like you’re just not familiar with the phrase. It might not be “accepted and used” in your area, and I agree it’s confusing. But it is common, regardless.

Many examples can be found in your choice of search engine, here’s one result but it’s very very common.

As Schwanz’s granddaughter approached Lemmon’s casket, she shook her head yes and said, “That’s her,” referring to her great-grandmother, Rummerfield.

[-] 5wim@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 month ago

Not only is "common" unfortunately not a quantitative assertion (and I disagree), many incorrect usages are "common."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_shake

As earlier stated, obviously some people might use the opposite words for a particular effect.

[-] Hawke@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I mean feel free to count search results if you care to assess exactly how common it is. Regardless, writing this phrase is not “insanity”

[-] 5wim@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 month ago

I'm pretty sure I only said it was wrong.

[-] Kayday@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Whenever I see that line in books, I have taken it to mean a reluctant yes. As if the person is both shaking their head in exasperation and conceding something to the other person.

[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

It's definitely a sign of being disingenuous. Either outright lying or placating the listener.

this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2024
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