air quote
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.45 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
1
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A typically two-handed gesture resembling quotation marks, indicating that the gesturer is speaking ironically or using unusual terminology.
noun
An emphatic tone of voice used to indicate a euphemism, or displeasure with a false or inaccurate phrase being quoted.
Example Sentences
- "You could hear the air quotes around ‘chill’ when he said it."
- ""So you were out with 'the boys'," she said vexedly, putting air quotes around the last two words."