History Main / ManHug

* Subverted in BrokebackMountain (of course). After seeing eachother for the first time in four years, Jack and Ennis share a platonic, rugged "man hug. But when they pull away ,their faces linger just a leeeeeeetle too close to eachother. Ennis looks around to make sure they are not being watched...then pushes Jack up against a wall and they proceed [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming make out with like the world is ending.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[SweetBroAndHellaJeff http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brohugbump_326.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Sweet bro comes thru....AGAIN]]

* {{Merlin}} goes in for a hug with his HeterosexaulLifePartner Arthur but is quickly stopped by him, much to the Fangirls tears.

In the western world, particularly in the United States, displays of affection between men are discouraged, on the theory that they are too "girly", or indicative of homosexuality. A congratulatory clap on the shoulder or back? Fine. Hugging and kissing? Not so much.

* In GrahamMcNeil's {{Warhammer 40000}} {{Ultramarines}} book ''The Killing Ground'', Uriel and Pasanius embrace when they are reunited after the first two test by the GreyKnights -- just before Leodagarius comments on Pasanius's loyalty and Uriel describes it as [[PowerOfFriendship friendship]].

* In a second-season episode of''HomeImprovement'', Tim talks about the ManHug in a ''[[ShowWithinAShow Tool Time]]'' segment, and tells his guests that he's secure enough as a man to dare hug other men as a token of appreciation. The hug issue is very quickly dropped when Al remarks: "You know, Tim, in Europe, men kiss each other on both cheeks."

* ''HomeImprovement'' had much of an episode dedicated to discussion of the ManHug and whether or not it made you less manly to do it. At the end, Tim decided that it was okay to hug your male friends on occasion and even talked about this on ''[[ShowWithinAShow Tool Time]]''.

Therefore, when two men hug in western media, it usually indicates that they are close friends, brothers (in blood or in spirit) or trusted comrades-in-arms. This is the Man Hug. Usually accompanied by a mutual clap on the back or shoulder[[hottip:* :(The general rule seems to be the more physical pain you inflict, the more affection is communicated. Expect the occasional clenched-fist-pat, or pound.)]], the Man Hug is a show of deep trust and close friendship between two men that cannot be broken easily. It may be a show of comfort, a wordless offer of good luck, or even a gesture of greeting. It is often combined with a handshake, so that two men approach, shake hands, throw the free arm around their partner, briefly bump chests, and separate without any further fanfare. However, this can be part of a more elaborate ritual (see the ''MetalGearSolid'' example, below). Basically this hug says, "Yeah I'm hugging you, but I'm also hitting you." as a way to save face.

Related to AirHugging. May be a sign that two characters are HeterosexualLifePartners. Men who aren't afraid to hug also don't tend to be afraid to shed ManlyTears. Subtrope of HandshakeSubstitute.

* In the movie ''Houseguest'', Sinbad poses as a family friend of an affluent family. When he meets Phil Hartman's character at the airport, he quickly finds himself the awkward recipient of the Waist Hug Limpet Cling.

* [[{{Boondocks}} Do the homey! Do the homey!]]
* Pretty much standard in ''FullHouse''. With all the hugging that goes on in that show, some of those guys have to be walking around with [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal black and blue busted, bruised backs]].
* In ''MetalGearSolid 2'', Snake gives one of these to Otacon at the end of a seven-step Cool Handshake, shortly after [[spoiler: Otacon's sister Emma dies]] and before the latter goes to rescue a number of hostages from the Big Shell.

* Alex Cross and his childhood friend Samson frequently exchange these as greetings in the novels by James Patterson.

* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': Nathan and Peter Petrelli always, always do this when they meet (except in more angsty moments).
* In the Season 2 Finale of ''{{Chuck}}'', Chuck goes in for a man-hug with Casey, telling him that "See? Guys can hug too." Casey is less enthused.

* [[{{HerculesThe LegendaryJourneys}} Hercules]] did this a lot, as did Iolaus.
* In ''{{Persona 4}}'' the MC can give one (of the arms-around-the-waist variety) to Yosuke if he chooses the right choice in an earlier scene. Amidst his crying, Yosuke questions the manliness of the hug, saying, "You dumbass... that's for girls..."
** Of course, there is only [[GoingThroughTheMotions one hug animation]] for the MC.

* In the second ''JakAndDaxter'' game, Daxter gets drunk and gives his [[HeterosexualLifePartners Heterosexual Life Partner]] Jak a hug while slurring "I love you, man!" Jak looks less touched by the display of affection and more disturbed by it.
* In the Pit of Saron dungeon in ''{{World of Warcraft}}'' the rescued prisoners can remark, "You deserve a mighty man hug."

* A hilarious subversion of this is in an episode of ''JusticeLeague'' (''Savage Time: Part III'') after Superman and a handful of the other Leaguers return to the present. Batman had not been with them (well, there was an alternate version of him where they went) so he is given the ManHug by Superman. To which he replies in a confused voice: "...am I missing something here?"
* ''{{Sweet Bro And Hella Jeff}}'' features the "Bro Hug Bump" (pictured), which is presented with [[{{What Do You Mean Its Not Awesome}} as much dramatic buildup and superlatives as possible]]. "[[{{Memetic Mutation}} Where doing it man... where MAKING THIS HAPEN]]"

* [[JohnnyWander Do the bro hug!]] [[http://www.johnnywander.com/comics/172 Hug like bros!]]
* The end of a very hilarious {{lampshaded}} ''{{Home Movies}}'' scene tries this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12F0bZkJ4E
* [[{{RENT}} Roger and Mark]] at the end of ''"What You Own"''. (Lots of subtext throughout the show/movie.)
* Lampshaded and parodied in this "How To Give the Perfect Man Hug" video by VideoJug: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUdWApwbudQ "Give a great man to man hug to your closest friends and family without getting that awkward feeling!"]]

* In the movie ''Houseguest'', Sinbad poses as a family friend of an affluent family. When he meets Phil Hartman's character at the airport, he quickly finds himself the awkward recipient of the Waist Hug Limpet Cling.
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* Tony gives Gibbs a very quick "Yay, you're not dead!" ManHug in the first episode of the fourth season of {{NCIS}}. Gibbs just stand there, though. Too manly at the moment even to slap a back.

[[SweetBroAndHellaJeff http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brohugbump_326.jpg]]
[[caption-width:512:sweet bro comes thru....AGAIN]]

* The end of a very hilarious {{lampshaded}} {{Home Movies}} scene tries this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12F0bZkJ4E