hand waving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hand waving" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts where someone is dismissing or glossing over details, often in a technical or academic discussion. Example: "The explanation was filled with hand waving, lacking the necessary evidence to support the claims made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

There was more yelling, more hand waving.

The New York Times

See his own small hand waving.

The New Yorker

"O.K., here we are," he shouted, a hand waving.

The New York Times - Travel

Wait, I see a hand waving back there.

The New York Times

"Yet they did a lot of hand waving and left the impression that they were not telling the whole story.

The New York Times

Stroke style consists of hand waving motions.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Shouting and hand-waving fill the room, and cups of thick Turkish coffee are passed around.

The New York Times

Ok, enough hand-waving.

TechCrunch

Perhaps language got its start with rough grunts, rather than hand-waving.

Forbes

It involves a lot of hand-waving.

The Economist

Gasps, hand-waving, loud abracadabras.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hand waving" to describe situations where details are intentionally omitted or oversimplified, especially in technical or argumentative contexts.

Common error

Don't use "hand waving" when you simply mean someone is physically waving their hand. Reserve it for instances of evasiveness or superficiality in explanations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hand waving" functions as a noun, often used to describe a type of argumentation or explanation characterized by vagueness or a lack of concrete details. Ludwig shows examples where it signifies dismissal or oversimplification. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hand waving" is a noun phrase commonly used to describe arguments or explanations that lack specific details or evidence. Ludwig's analysis shows it's grammatically correct and appears frequently in News & Media and Science. While usable, it often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of rigor or evasiveness. To avoid criticism, it's best to provide concrete evidence and thorough explanations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is a valid part of the English lexicon, though its usage should be considered carefully based on the context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

waving one's hand

Focuses on the physical action of waving a hand, suitable for describing literal instances of waving.

glossing over

Implies a superficial treatment of a topic, similar to the dismissive sense of "hand waving".

gesticulating wildly

Describes exaggerated hand movements, emphasizing the intensity of gesturing.

avoiding specifics

Highlights the act of deliberately evading detailed explanations.

dismissing details

Shifts the focus to the act of ignoring or downplaying specifics.

being evasive

Indicates an unwillingness to provide clear or direct answers.

dodging the question

Indicates an attempt to evade a direct response to a query.

talking vaguely

Focuses on the lack of clarity and precision in speech.

arm gestures

Relates to the use of arm movements as a form of non-verbal communication.

non-verbal cues

Broadens the scope to include any form of communication without words.

FAQs

What does "hand waving" mean in a discussion?

In a discussion, "hand waving" refers to the use of vague arguments or the avoidance of specific details, often to gloss over weaknesses in a claim.

How can I avoid "hand waving" in my explanations?

To avoid "hand waving", provide concrete evidence, specific examples, and thorough explanations to support your claims, instead of "avoiding specifics".

What's a more formal way to describe "hand waving"?

A more formal alternative to "hand waving" could be "superficial reasoning" or "lack of rigor" depending on the context.

Is "hand waving" always negative?

While often used negatively to criticize a lack of substance, "hand waving" can also describe necessary simplifications in complex explanations, though it's essential to avoid "dismissing details" entirely.