History Main / StrangeSalute

* In Franquin's ''ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio'' series, the dictator Zantafio of Palumbia invents a salute where people have to move their hand, thumb upside down, over their head.
** And in the same comic, the "electronic dictator" Zorglub's henchmen salute by putting their right index fingers in their right ears, shouting "Eviv Bulgroz!" ("Vive Zorglub!" backwards).

** The Psi Corps use a salute that's an homage to the salute in ''Series/ThePrisoner'' above, except that the "monocle" is formed over one's forehead, to symbolize a "[[PsychicPowers third eye]]".

* The salute described above for ''Series/ThePrisoner'' was originally known as the "Sign of the Fish", and was used by early Christians in the Roman Empire (before it converted, naturally) as a [[SecretHandshake means of identifying one another]].

** Further explored in the books, where the "Full Rimmer" is joined by the "Double Rimmer" (done with both hand simultaneously) and the "Single Rimmer," three rotations of the wrist before a salute "for emergencies." That's the ''simplified'' one.

** The MirrorUniverse's [[TheEmpire Earth Empire]] salute is functionally identical to the Romulan salute, except that you hit your chest right above your heart beforehand.

* In the Franchise/StarTrekNovelVerse, the Kinshaya flare their wings as their version of a salute - this also serves to display the wing colours that signify family lineage, reinforcing the hierarchy in more ways than one.

* In ''Literature/TimeEnoughForLove'' Lazarus Long has journeyed back in time to the First World War and has been forced by social pressure to join the American army. Since he is obviously an experienced soldier,
to avoid getting sent to the trenches in France he encourages the rumour that he is a deserter from the French Foreign Legion by occasionally "accidentally" giving the French palm-outward-facing salute instead of the American hand-down one.

For the more general version, see MemeticHandGesture. For real-life salutes, see MilitarySalute.

* In ''Literature/TimeEnoughForLove'' Lazarus Long has journeyed back in time to the First World War and has been forced by social pressure to join the American army. To avoid getting sent to the trenches in France, he encourages the rumour that he is a deserter from the French Foreign Legion by occasionally "accidentally" giving the French palm-outward-facing salute instead of the American hand-down one.

* In ''Literature/TimeEnoughForLove Lazarus Long has journeyed back in time to the First World War and has been forced by social pressure to join the American army. To avoid getting sent to the trenches in France, he encourages the rumour that he is a deserter from the French Foreign Legion by occasionally "accidentally" giving the French palm-outward-facing salute instead of the American hand-down one.

** [[UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill V for Victory]], eh?

* ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' has 'The Airplanes'. Bend your ring and index fingers, and stick your little finger and thumb out to the sides. Turn your palm towards yourself if you're the one being awesome, otherwise point your middle finger at the recipient. [[http://www.nineinchsandwich.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Viewtiful-Joe.jpg This is what it should look like]].

* WebVideo/DoctorSteel - In several of his propaganda posters, Dr. Steel is shown saluting with his fist over his heart, looking up and (usually) to his right (toward a better future?). This has become the RealLife ''de facto'' salute of his fan club, the [[Website/ToySoldiersUnite Army of Toy Soldiers]].

* A couple of these appear in ''OnePiece.'' The White Berets of Skypeia make an odd hand gesture on their foreheads. Marines salute palm-inwards. Though, according to Oda, the latter is an actual sailor salute used to avoid showing tar-stained hands to your superiors.

* In Manga/OnePiece, 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.

** The full service one shows up in one of the later episodes. It's contrasted with Lister's less than military friendly wave to the captain.

* [[Literature/{{Discworld}}:
** When Detritus the troll]] first joins the Night Watch in ''Discworld/MenAtArms'', he can't get the hang of saluting, and tends to knock himself out.

* When [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Detritus the troll]] first joins the Night Watch, he can't get the hang of saluting, and tends to knock himself out.
* Apprentice Postman Stanley Howler of the Ankh-Morpork Post Office in ''Discworld/GoingPostal'' is introduced while standing to attention with "one side significantly more at attention than the other." According to Junior Postman Groat, Stanley was raised by peas and tends to turn towards the sun.

** Further explored in the books, where the 'Double Rimmer' is joined by the "Full Rimmer" and the "Single Rimmer," three rotations of the wrist before a salute "for emergencies." That's the ''simplified'' one.

** In ''Paradise Towers'', the caretakers salute by holding up their hand horizontally under their nose in the British playground "put your finger under your nose like a moustache to allude to Adolf Hitler" gesture. The Kangs have an elaborate "how-de-do" salute which looks like a tribute to the dance routine from Music/AdamAnt's "Prince Charming" video.
** In the episode ''Inferno'', the fascist army of an alternate-history UK had a salute sort of like the Vulcan one, but without the split fingers. This is actually the gesture that UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler himself often personally used to return others' Nazi salutes.

** In "Genesis of the Daleks," we learn that a Kaled salute is a quick stamp of the heels. In "Remembrance of the Daleks," Ratcliffe greets someone in this manner. Given Ratcliffe's fascistic tendencies, it's entirely intentional.

* In ''Film/BlackPanther'', Wakandans salute by crossing their arms over their chest to form a W.

* Occupants of The Village in ''Series/ThePrisoner'' bid farewell by saying the phrase "Be seeing you" after forming a monocle over one's eye with the thumb and the forefinger, with the rest of the fingers extended diagonally above the forehead.

* The Spaceball fleet in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' has a couple. First we have Lord Helmet's minions covering their groins whenever they speak to him (though this might be a purely practical defensive action, given his [[GroinAttack preferred method]] of dealing with [[YouHaveFailedMe sub-par performance]]). Then there's President Skroob's salute: make a rude hand sign (specifically, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bras_d%27honneur the "up yours" gesture), then immediately pretend to wave politely; perfectly appropriate for a two-faced backstabbing organization.

* The Spaceball fleet in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' has a couple. First we have Lord Helmet's minions covering their groins whenever they speak to him (though this might be a purely practical defensive action, given his [[GroinAttack preferred method]] of dealing with [[YouHaveFailedMe sub-par performance]]). Then there's President Skroob's salute: make a rude hand sign, then immediately pretend to wave politely; perfectly appropriate for a two-faced backstabbing organization.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial ''Paradise Towers'' the caretakers saluted by holding up their hand horizontally under their nose!
** In the episode ''Inferno'', the fascist army of an alternate-history UK had a salute sort of like the Vulcan one, but without the split fingers. This is actually the gesture that UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler himself often personally used instead of the usual Nazi salute.