Shake vs Nod

[LAS14]

Growing up I learned that to "shake" ones head referred to the action of turning from side to side to indicate "no." "Nodding" one's head referred to the action of moving one's chin up and down to indicate "yes."

Some decades ago I bumped into a writer who used "shake" to mean both things. A silly oversight, I thought.

But over time it has become the rule, not the exception.

What meaning do you all ascribe to "shake" and "nod?"

I view this is one more bit of evidence of the decay of our society (read with tongue in cheek... sort of).

Stop the world!! I want to get off!!!

[jberryhill]

1. Porque no los dos?

[LAS14]

3. Fascinating!!!!! Thanks so much!!!

And notice that she used "nod" to refer to both western head movements. Huh.

[jberryhill]

6. And then... what does one call this....

[cilla4progress]

7. See,

I thought that was a waggle!

[bearsfootball516]

2. To me, nod means yes. Shake can be yes or no, depending on the direction.

[LAS14]

4. Could you describe "directions" as it applies to "shake?" nt

[bearsfootball516]

5. Shaking up and down would be yes, shaking left to right would be no

[LAS14]

8. Aha! There it is, the thing I'm complaining about. Are you old enough...

... to have experienced a time when "shake" ONLY meant side to side? It's clear that's not true anymore.

[2naSalit]

9. That and

"across the world/globe" It was around the world/globe my entire life until about two years ago. Like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[quickesst]

10. Here is the side to side Shake in a nutshell

Shaking one's head back and forth rapidly means no.

Shaking one's head back and forth slowly means ....Aw jeez, not this shit again".

[LAS14]

11. nt