In written form, if a word appears in quotation marks, it sometimes has a purpose of indicating that the word has a special meaning. For example, if a painter is more known for being a clown in celebrity circles than for his art, then his “art” probably doesn’t amount to much. In speech, people make these finger curling motions to send a similar message, indicating that they don’t really mean it when they utter a certain word or short remark. Usually they want to indicate they’re being funny or sarcastic. In other words, don’t take that particular “word” or “remark” seriously or at face value.
Using the above mentioned painter again for example, if people say they all love his “art” along with finger quotes while winking their eyes and making faces, they really don’t mean for you to take them seriously. Rather, they probably mean to say that artist is a joke.
For another example, if an American says with a straight face that they “truly believe Donald Trump will make America great again”, then they probably support the new US president and think he’s the real deal. If, however, they say: “Of course Donald Trump will make America great again, because he is Donald Trump”, using air quotes both times when the name of Donald Trump is mentioned, you know they probably don’t take the former businessman-turned-reality TV star too seriously.
Got it?
Or should I perhaps have used a better example than Donald Trump, wink-wink?
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