History Main / StrangeSalute

For the more general version, see MemeticHandGesture. For real-life salutes, see MilitarySalute. This is sometimes involved with FictionalGreetingsAndFarewells. Subtrope of IdiosyncraticCulturalGesture.

** And also seen as an extremely insulting Italian (or maybe pan-European?) gesture meaning "cuckold." The UT marching band went on tour once, and almost caused an incident.

* In ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' and its sequels, Abh uses the Polish-style two-fingers salute, except that in this version, the palm is facing downward.

* In ''Film/Dune2021'', House Atreides' battle salute consists of touching the fist holding a blade to the heart, and touching the flat of the blade to the forehead.

*** In ''Film/BlackPantherWakandaForever'', the Talokani hold their hands like a sea shell in front of their chests

* Like the Canim, the titular sabertooths of ''Literature/TheBookOfTheNamed'' greet their social superiors by tilting their heads back to show their throats.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'': Members of Team Star salute to the player before battling by [[FingerTenting tenting their fingers]] to form the top of the star before drawing the rest of the shape with them.

* In ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', the [[ScoutOut Urban Rangers]] have a salute that's basically the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loser_(hand_gesture) loser gesture]] – extend forefinger and thumb like you're making a "gun" gesture, then put your hand to your head, palm facing out.

* In ImperialChina, Chinese military officers and martial arts practitioners salute each other in the now-famous [[http://singaporewushu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Wushu-Salute.jpg fist-in-palm salute]]. The fist means the strength and courage of the wielder, while the palm symbolizes the wisdom and temperance that controls said strength.

* This is, in fact, OlderThanPrint, with Dante's ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' having an example with Malacoda and the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Malebranche]]: One of the demons salutes his cohorts by ''farting''.

For the more general version, see MemeticHandGesture. For real-life salutes, see MilitarySalute. This is sometimes involved with FictionalGreetingsAndFarewells.

** In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and its sequel, the Ravagers salute by taking a clenched right fist and striking their chest near the heart, twice. When Yondu does it in the sequel to Stakar, one of the other, senior captains, and he doesn't return it, you can tell Yondu is in trouble for something. [[spoiler:In this case, transporting children for Ego, directly in violation of the Ravagers' Code.]]

* Throughout the entire opening to ''Manga/ElfenLied'', the protagonist is depicted making a curious one-handed sign: With the back of her hand outward, middle and ring finger held together and the rest apart. Never seen or explained in the actual story. Hint: [[spoiler: Compare with the Vulcan Salute depicted above. Very [[VillainProtagonist in-character]].]]

* A couple of these appear in ''Manga/OnePiece.'' The White Berets of Skypeia make an odd hand gesture on their foreheads. The Marines have their own unique salute. It resembles a standard military salute, except instead of the palm slightly facing downwards, it is instead facing against the saluter's forehead, with the back of the hand facing forward. Though, according to Oda, the latter is an actual sailor salute used to avoid showing tar-stained hands to your superiors.