✌️
Victory Hand
VIK-tuh-ree hand
Definitions
1
Gestures · Positive
Very Common
Hand gesture showing index and middle fingers raised in a V shape, representing victory, peace, or as a casual greeting in photos.
Commonly used in selfies, group photos, or to express triumph. Direction of palm (inward or outward) can change meaning in some cultures.
Just aced my final exam! ✌️
Social media celebration
Peace and love to everyone ✌️ Sending positive vibes only
Instagram caption
Squad goals ✌️ #bestfriends #weekend
Group photo caption
Originally popularized as Churchill's WWII victory sign, later adopted by peace movements in the 1960s, now a universal photo pose.
2
Gestures · Farewell
Common
Used to indicate a casual goodbye or departure in text conversations, especially among younger users.
Often placed at the end of messages as a friendly sign-off, similar to 'bye' or 'see ya'.
Heading out now, catch you later ✌️
Text message
Gotta go to class, ttyl ✌️
Messaging app
This usage evolved from the peace sign meaning, transforming into a casual digital farewell gesture in the 2010s.
3
Gestures · Playful
Common
Used to convey a casual, cool, or slightly dismissive attitude, especially in younger demographics.
Often indicates a carefree attitude or adds a lighthearted tone to messages.
Not my problem ✌️ I'm just here for the drama
Social media comment
School's out for summer ✌️ hello freedom!
Social media post
This usage emerged with digital natives who adopted the symbol as part of internet slang, distancing it from its historical peace/victory origins.
Evolution Timeline
1941
Winston Churchill popularizes the V-sign (palm outward) as symbol of victory against Nazi Germany.
World War II resistance symbol
1960
Anti-war protesters adopt the gesture as a peace symbol during Vietnam War protests.
Counter-culture movement and anti-war sentiment
1972
Richard Nixon's famous 'V for Victory' gesture after boarding helicopter following resignation.
Watergate scandal and political imagery
2010
Selfie culture popularizes ✌️ as standard photo pose across social media platforms.
Smartphone cameras and Instagram launch
2020
COVID-19 pandemic sees resurgence as symbol of hope and solidarity in digital communications.
Global health crisis and increased digital connection
Cultural Context
The V-sign originated as Churchill's WWII victory symbol before being adopted by peace movements in the 1960s, showing how gestures can evolve from war to anti-war meanings.
The palm direction is crucial: in the UK, Australia, and parts of Europe, palm inward is highly offensive, while palm outward conveys peace or victory.
The rise of selfie culture in the 2010s cemented ✌️ as a standard photo pose, particularly in East Asian countries where it's nearly ubiquitous in casual photography.
For Baby Boomers, this symbol carries political weight from the Vietnam era, while for Gen Z, it's often just a casual photo pose or texting sign-off.
The gesture has multiple names across English dialects: 'peace sign' (US), 'V-sign' (UK), 'victory sign' (formal), and 'deuces' (slang in American youth culture).
Regional Variations
Australia
Similar to UK, the inward-facing version is offensive, while the outward version maintains positive meanings.
United Kingdom
When palm faces inward, this gesture is highly offensive in the UK, equivalent to the middle finger in American culture.
Japan
Extremely common in Japanese photo culture as the 'peace sign', regardless of palm direction.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Primarily peace symbol with counter-culture associations. Used in photos but with awareness of potential offensive meanings in UK/Australia.
Gen_Z: Casual sign-off in texts or standard photo pose. Often used ironically or paired with other emojis. Popular on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Churchill's victory sign or 1960s peace symbol with strong historical associations. Less frequently used in digital communication.
Millennials: Nostalgic symbol used in photos and as friendly goodbye in messaging. Common on Instagram and Facebook with varied meanings.
Common Combinations
✌️😊
Friendly goodbye or positive vibes with warm sentiment.
Common in text messages to signal friendly departure without negativity.
✌️❤️
Peace and love, or farewell with affection.
Echoes 1960s hippie culture while expressing modern digital affection.
✌️😎
Cool, casual attitude or stylish departure.
Projects confidence and nonchalance, popular in youth culture.
✌️🏼
Skin-tone modified victory sign for personalization.
Part of digital identity expression through emoji customization.
✌️✨
Stylized peace sign with sparkle effect, often in aesthetic posts.
Popular in curated social media content, especially among younger users.