Attention all people of British nationality, upbringing, or general cultural aptitude!

[timepiececlock]

I have a culture-clash question.

I'm watching the 6th episode of Coupling. The one about the closet of homemade porn.

Near the end, Patrick and Jeff agree on something, and they both do this weird hand gesture. Touching their nose while pointing at each other.

In the Buffy The Vampire Slayer episode _Weight of the World_ Spike made this same gesture at Anya when she correctly guessed "So then, you're saying-- Ben, is Glory."

What does this mean? Is this like, the European" thumbs up" or "Aye-OK" sign?

Inquiring minds want to know.

And, once again, love this show. Really, sincerely love it.

Like it a hell of a lot more than Sex & the City.

Probably because the characters are nicer people. Even the totally, mind-bogglingly shallow ones I find genuinely likable.

Comments

[duelingrose.livejournal.com]

I think, if Spike tapped her nose, it might have been like a "You got it on the nose", or "bull's eye" type thing... As for coupling, it could very well just be a secret handshake.


Just my guess

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

No, it was the exact same gesture. The person doing the gesture taps their own nose, right side, and points at the other person.

As these are two totally unrelated shows, and the only similarity is that Coupling is a British sitcom and Spike is a "British" character, that gesture must mean something.

[pileofashes.livejournal.com]

I think, if Spike tapped her nose, it might have been like a "You got it on the nose",

he didn't touch her nose,, he touched his own,, but you are correct in that it means "you got it on the nose".
it's kind of a stupid saying, but spike can make that gesture look hot. ;)

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

but you are correct in that it means "you got it on the nose".

That would make sense.

[kimera.livejournal.com]

Huh. Whenever I do that, it's usually to tell someone that somebody else "knows" about something.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Whenever I do that, it's usually to tell someone that somebody else "knows" about something.

Huh. You know, this is all very educational. Thank you.

Re:

[pileofashes.livejournal.com]

Huh. Whenever I do that, it's usually to tell someone that somebody else "knows" about something.

yes, plain nose touching does mean someone knows about something, but now follow that through. he touched his nose, AND pointed at her. "kewpie doll for the lady".
touching his nose meaning that someone knows something,,, pointing at anya meaning that that someone is her....... hence "you [anya] got it on the nose"

[hils.livejournal.com]

British here, and clueless. I know exactly the gesture you mean but I have no idea what it means. Sorry. I have failed in my duty as resident Brit

GAH! *gasp*

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

You...you.. FAILED! And you DARE to call yourself a Brit!


But hey, I don't know exactly what "snowblowing" means, so I probably fail as an American. ;)

Re: GAH! *gasp*

[loves-bitch.livejournal.com]

But hey, I don't know exactly what "snowblowing" means, so I probably fail as an American. ;)

I COULD explain what it means. But just go watch 'Clerks'. Cause Snowballing/blowing are the same thing and they describe it well in that movie. Plus well it's a kick ass flick.

Re: GAH! *gasp*

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Cause Snowballing/blowing are the same thing and they describe it well in that movie. Plus well it's a kick ass flick.

Really? Whoa. I got it from that movie Step-Mom, but they didn't explain it. So afterwards I kept asking my mother if she knew what it meant, and she said she had never heard of it and thought they made if up for the movie.

then again

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Is it strange that I'd remember something as finite as a throw-away hand gesture that a character made only once on a seven-year tv show, on an episode that didn't even air while I was watching the show?

Or is it weirder that you automatically knew what I was talking about?

This is true fandom, indeed.

Re: then again

[hils.livejournal.com]

Well, people DO make that gesture over here. I just don't know what it means.

So far as I can tell it means something along the lines of "You're the man/woman"

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

It's an acknowledgement commonly used to mean "you're/that is correct" or "keep it secret."

So you guys get coupling? he nest nritish Sticom for years, so I imagine it's days are numbered...

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

he nest nritish Sticom for years, so I imagine it's days are numbered...

Well, according to the cast intervies o DVD it only started in 2001, or something. Not a terribly long time.

Re:

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

No I think we have had 3 series of it so far..

LMAO

[sunlit5.livejournal.com]

It means,

"You hit it on the nose."

I'm thinking you've never played Charades.

Basically means, Right, you got it.


Sun

Re: LMAO

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking you've never played Charades.

I have. Only once, though. And maybe in a charades setting, when I knew for sure that its literal meaning would directly correspond to it's movement/look, I might have guessed it. I've jsut never seen anyone do that before, except in those two tv scenes mentioned. ever.

[saava.livejournal.com]

Probably because the characters are nicer people. Even the totally, mind-bogglingly shallow ones I find genuinely likable.

Whoa.

Now, I love Coupling as much as the next person (I've forced several friends to watch it) but *what* are you saying about my beloved Sex and the City?

Totally not even the same kind of show. Personally, I think I'd rather have the Sex and the City gals as my friends than anyone on Coupling. Sure, they're all man-obsessed (with the possibly exception of Miranda) but in times of actual strife (which I've yet to see on Coupling) they're actually there for each other.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Their loyalty each other is very impressive, but sometimes I get really irritated at them. I like Carrie best, and I've seen at least 2 dozen, probably more, episodes, sometimes repeated, but it just was never a show I could throw myself into. Sometimes they came off very shallow to me. And I don't think I'd have everyone on Coupling be my best friend, but I definitely liked watching it more. But then, as you said, different show. S&tC goes for mild drama as well as comedy. But the timeline/pacing style of the show appealed to me less as well.

Differing preferences.

[saava.livejournal.com]

Yeah. S&tC is definitely more of a "trying to be at least a little realistic" show.

I love Carrie, though. Possibly because I see her make so many mistakes and think, "God, I can so see myself doing the same stupid thing in that situation!"

I think the thing that made me fall in love with the show, though was the first episode of season two. Carrie and Miranda have this big fight because Miranda thinks they obsess over men too much. And so they weren't talking to each other. And Carrie;s totally on the rebound from big. She's out with this new guy and sees big and basically falls apart. She sprints away from her date to a telephone booth and calls Miranda saying, "I know things haven't been the best between us lately, but I need you." (And at this point, you think she's maybe calling Big.)

And then she walks into a diner and Miranda's there and they hug. And yes, I'm a large sappy girl. :)

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

And then she walks into a diner and Miranda's there and they hug. And yes, I'm a large sappy girl. :)

Everyone likes sap at least a little-- anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or trying to sell you something. ;)

(and there's my quote from the sappiest movie ever.)

[saava.livejournal.com]

Oh, I beg to differ!

The Princess Bride may be sappy, but its knowningly and campily (and wonderfully!) so! My vote for Sappiest Movie Ever? Beaches.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

The Princess Bride may be sappy, but its knowningly and campily (and wonderfully!) so!

Ok, it's mock-sap. But that's my favorite kind.

My vote for Sappiest Movie Ever? Beaches.

Never seen that. I will some day.

I'm changing my vote. If The Princess Bride does not qualify because it's satire, then I'd have to say... The Bridges of Madison County. Recognized by all as unsurpassed in realm of sap.