What's this gesture called? Chest rub

Y'know when you do something impressive, but with surprising ease, and you follow it up by simulating a polish of your knuckles on the clothing covering your chest?

What's that called? Where does it come from? What's its real meaning?

Isn’t it something to do with polishing brass knuckles?

The one I know is you breathe on your fingernails first and then rub them on your chest. Maybe that got shortened to exclude the breathing on the fingernails part. 

If you have a jar of Vicks in your hand, it indicates you have a shitty cold.

LionAquaLooper said:

The one I know is you breathe on your fingernails first and then rub them on your chest. Maybe that got shortened to exclude the breathing on the fingernails part. 

Yes it's supposed to be buffing up your manicure. Quick Google suggests a theory that it began in a Bugs Bunny cartoon although I wouldn't bet the house on that. 

Chest wank??

Sternum rub. 

EricTheWeary said:

LionAquaLooper said:

The one I know is you breathe on your fingernails first and then rub them on your chest. Maybe that got shortened to exclude the breathing on the fingernails part. 

Yes it's supposed to be buffing up your manicure. Quick Google suggests a theory that it began in a Bugs Bunny cartoon although I wouldn't bet the house on that. 

I'd agree with the unnecessary nail buffing. Similar to dusting imaginary specks of dust from one's shoulders to show how unmoved you are after an altercation ;)

I remember Savile doing it on a documentary when he was getting an accolade from one of the royal family. 

jonnyburgo said:

I remember Savile doing it on a documentary when he was getting an accolade from one of the royal family. 

So my definition is definitely correct ;)

Do people still do that? 

It's a way of telling people that last time you wiped your bum your finger went through the paper, and it still smells a bit poopy. 

theatreanchor said:

Do people still do that? 

Apparently not. I did it in a team meeting once and no one of the 20 people in there got what i meant. 

You're having a heart attack?

LionAquaLooper said:

theatreanchor said:

Do people still do that? 

Apparently not. I did it in a team meeting once and no one of the 20 people in there got what i meant. 

I’d have got the reference, but I’ve honestly not even thought about it in decades. Not seen it either. Maybe I’d respect it if I saw it. Might try it. 

I thought it was something to do with rubbing your war medals? Haven’t seen anyone do it for ages though and no idea what it’s called. 

I've never really given this much thought because I always just assumed that I knew what the gesture meant.  I think it's just an indication that you are superior in that you have nicely manicured "white collar worker" fingernails and not only just achieved a remarkable feat without breaking a nail (or breaking a sweat), but now have the time to buff them in a leisurely, condescending and pompous manner.  That's my take on it, but I suppose if we were to have seen somebody like Cyril Smith doing this we might been correct in assuming he was rubbing off juvenile DNA or abrading the fingerprints of his finger tips.

boogieman said:

I thought it was something to do with rubbing your war medals? Haven’t seen anyone do it for ages though and no idea what it’s called. 

Thought it was polishing nails. Which even now seems like a stupid thing to do. 

Hmmmm... when analysed thoroughly & in every cultural context, any gesture can be a pointless, stupid or potentially dangerous thing to do. Life is complicated  B)

I completely forgot it existed until this thread lol. It's true that nobody does it any more.

It's to show that you are polishing your medal issued for achieving the feat.

I'm not sure if Alan Partridge did it, if not then he missed a great time!

Switch625 said:

I completely forgot it existed until this thread lol. It's true that nobody does it any more.

I do it very occasionally. But I am old.

Sounds like a job for a fluffer.

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

TheMarlin said:

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

I'd not recommend fingernail inhalation, but I reckon @EricTheWeary  had it covered earlier in the discussion?

TheMarlin said:

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

Yes this is what I know it as. Never heard of medals being a part of it. Never really seen people polish their  medals with their nails/knuckles while they're dangling on their chest. 

Kittyfrisk said:

TheMarlin said:

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

I'd not recommend fingernail inhalation, but I reckon @EricTheWeary  had it covered earlier in the discussion?

He’s a smart man!

Kittyfrisk said:

TheMarlin said:

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

I'd not recommend fingernail inhalation, but I reckon @EricTheWeary  had it covered earlier in the discussion?

TheMarlin said:

Kittyfrisk said:

TheMarlin said:

Wasn’t ’breath in your fingernails and polish tbem
on your chest’?  Somehow suggesting excellence 

I'd not recommend fingernail inhalation, but I reckon @EricTheWeary  had it covered earlier in the discussion?

He’s a smart man!

Rules to live your life by…

roundthebend said:

Y'know when you do something impressive, but with surprising ease, and you follow it up by simulating a polish of your knuckles on the clothing covering your chest?

What's that called? Where does it come from? What's its real meaning?

It is called 'buffing your nails". I think it is one of Charlie Chaplin's mannerisms, later imitated by Bugs Bunny. A demonstration can be found on Gestpedia.

Interesting, I'd kind of forgotten about that, you really don't see it any more. I wonder what other gestures have disappeared?

I used to use it quite a lot as I'm superior to most people at stuff.