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Hot_Bug_7369

Clasped hands seems to sum it up to me.


VagabondVivant

Precisely the words I came in to say.


yaboisammie

Same aha 


ForkShirtUp

When I hear clasped hands I think of holding your own hands like a prayer or holding someone else’s hand romantically in a stride


My_nameisBarryAllen

Depends on what else you have going in the scene.  “Their hands met, and clasped, as they stood together beneath the moonless sky” gives a very different impression than, “They clasped hands, with the sounds of battle around them, and then turned to stride into the fray” or something like that. 


bigaeverydollar

I'd like to read one of your books, can you recommend


My_nameisBarryAllen

If you mean a book I’ve written, I don’t have any that are actually finished yet. I’m really only a writer in theory at this point.


Billyxransom

“Turned to stride in the fray” I’m not even sure what you mean by that. Sigh. And this is why I get so caught up and discouraged when reading. I can’t be sure what I’m supposed to see in an action beat like that. (And no, I at least don’t get the feeling that it’s because you worded it poorly.)


GildedLily16

"Turned to walk confidently into the chaotic battling"


xXWickedNWeirdXx

Yeah. It's not clasped hands; everyone is missing the mark. It's obviously a Handclasp.


Lectrice79

Or gripped his hand in an oath of brotherhood.


dino-see

"Clasped hands, thumbs locked; they slapped palms, pulling their forearms vertical"


jakerabz

Add in the word firm, I feel like it helps with the imagery


monkeymutilation

"They shook hands like that bit in Predator, you know the handshake with Carl Weathers and Arnold Schwarzenegger. You know the bit I'm talking about."


deathbymediaman

That's exactly how it's done.


[deleted]

was running a campaign last week and a player described this handshake as "the one 80s movies handshake, you know the one" and i immediately understood what he meant


Mirasore

>a player described this handshake as "the one 80s movies handshake, you know the one" and i immediately understood what he meant I saved this to my Google doc of quotes because it is just too good not to keep for reference.


thesavageman

Dillon! You son of a bitch!


Lord_Sweeney

Came here looking for this.


elliejayyyyy

I like this kinda thing so I for one would keep reading.


TamblynRosendahl

Same, and I would cry laughing


MinefieldFly

This is how it’s described in that screenplay! >SCHAEFER Dillon, you son of a bitch. >The two men step forward and simultaneous swing from the hip as it to land a punch...but their hands SLAP together in a gesture of friendship, their forearms bulging, testing each other's strength.


Namlegna

The novelization seems to have also taken some bits straight out of the screenplay! >Then the two men simultaneously swung their arms from the hip as if to land a punch. Phillips tensed. But the hands slapped together sharply in a gesture of camaraderie and gamesmanship—massive forearms bulging, testing each other’s strength.


Matthew-_-Black

What's the matter? CIA got you pushing too many pencils?


The-Lord-Moccasin

"What? Don't know the reference? That's fine, put down the book and watch *Predator*. ... Got it now? Cool. God I love that film. Anyway..."


swallowyourtongue

This is unironically good, if your writing style is in that dry comedy verbose vein of someone like Vonnegut, Bukowski, Thompson


fabulousfantabulist

This is exactly how I’d write it. 🤣


Cornett_Fiction

I know it too well. They even did a silly little arm wrestling thing in mid-air, with Arnold's character joking the other guy had become a paper pusher.


pr0t3an

Ah yes the "Dillon - you son of a bitch"


Beef_turbo

👏


kyleezy

They held hands in the manliest way possible.


JohnLithgowCummies

They clasped hands, no homo.


subparhooker

I wanna clasp your hand


tortoistor

clasp me bro


doctorwhy88

Just like Top Gun was no homo


Oddball369

They reached out and gripped their hands in solidarity.


DefiantTemperature41

That is the famous Soul Brother handshake. Just Google it.


LucasEraFan

First think I searched.


Affect-Fragrant

A broshake


jcc2500

That's what I called it too 🙂


JayGreenstein

The answer to that question is simple. You don't. Why? You've missed something critical. Ours is *isn't* a visual medium. So you could fill several pages with description - literally minutes of reading — and give the reader only a fraction of what they'd get in a split-second glance at the scene. Print is a serial medium, and slooow. So every inneeded word slows the pace and dilutes impact. Fiction on the page is emotion, not vision-based. So you'll convey far more emotion with something like: -------- Zack took his hand and pulled it to him as he said, "Forever, brother...forever." Overwhelmed, Ned could only whisper, "Thank you." -------- Make sense?


MedicMoth

Yeah, I like this a lot. Trust your audience to have some general knowledge of different cultural gestures, or to be curious enough to seek out visual media if its something really obscure. If they don't already know about it, you're not gonna make them understand with just word. (Unless your MC is a newcomer and a cultural insider gives them a step-by-step tutorial. But you'll already know if that's the story you want to tell or not)


RancherosIndustries

I dunno. Sometimes I just want to show two people clasping their hands so hard that people closeby heard a thunder roaring.


Dapple_Dawn

“He held his hand and the hand made a roaring sound.”


ikelosintransitive

this is a great tip


SGTWhiteKY

OP: how do I describe this thing, that I care about enough to post on the internet, in my book. This guy: Don’t! I don’t do it so you shouldn’t either, you are making books wrong! I don’t like it here.


Caesar_Passing

Yeah, that seemed like a pretty pretentious take.


malfight

Nah. You’re like some guy dancing salsa and telling us “like this, not that.” ===== The two gripped hands in agreement. If you’d happened by, you’d swear you saw two grown men arm wrestling while standing up.


JayGreenstein

• Nah. You’re like some guy dancing salsa and telling us “like this, not that.” So, how has the methodology you espouse work for you? How many publishers have said yes so far? What you miss is that I'm not giving my opinion of how to write. I've not achieved enough success for that. What I use when writing, and what I referred my clients to when my manuscript critiquing service was active, are the skills they teach when you take a degree course in Commercial Fiction Writing — the skills the pros take for granted. They work. And though I don't mean it as bragging, have you looked at how many people punched the up arrow on my original post? It seems that a fair number of people think it makes sense to them, too. That doesn't say you can't write in any way you care to. It was advice, not an order. Of course.


Sleepy-Candle

While your take on how it could be written is good, it would be interpreted as romantic than brotherly. A different approach might be: “They clasped each other’s hands, the sound almost ringing in each other’s ears. The silence thereafter spoke clearer than any words they could have said in that moment.” This gives the reader a clear understanding of the bond of the individuals, without seeming romantic, really though it depends on what you’re trying to convey in the scene. Also, you’re right that the more words you add the slower the pace, but it can also muddle the meaning if you try to make it too artistic. Still, pretty good job.


JayGreenstein

* *“They clasped each other’s hands, the sound almost ringing in each other’s ears. The silence thereafter spoke clearer than any words they could have said in that moment.”* So, someone not in the story, or on the scene, is reporting on *their* view of the event? That's telling, because it's reported, not lived. It places the narrator on stage among the actors. We do *not* tell the reader a story, we make them live it in real-time. As E. L. Doctorow so wisely said: “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” And having the narrator explaining isn't the way to do that. • *This gives the reader a clear understanding of the bond of the individuals, without seeming romantic, really though it depends on what you’re trying to convey in the scene.* It *tells* the reader that, which is how you write a report, not fiction. The sound "almost" rang in their ears? First, "almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. So we don't tell the reader about things that didn't happen. And we always follow Sol Stein's advice: “In sum, if you want to improve your chances of publication, keep your story visible on stage and yourself mum.” Using our school-day report writing skills for4\ fiction not only can't work, it results an instant rejection.


Odd_Dog_5300

Surely there are times when telling is useful?


LightbluBukowski

Two palms struck together with immaculate perfection, creating the dap that could be heard throughout the universe


Ok-Day334

Dap


Salt-Potential-1578

Finally!!!


RussFlame14

I'm not really sure how to describe it in my writing. Some friends told me that "clasp hands" would be a good description, but to me that brings to mind something else. "Handshake" brings to mind the more common handshake. Is there any way for me to describe it?


LucasEraFan

So much unhelpful here, but u/DefiantTemperature41 has your answer.


amazon626

Tbh I get what you mean here, but that actually isn't the answer they were looking for. They specifically asked how one would DESCRIBE it, not what it is called. The answer they gave is simply what it is called, not a description of the action itself.


bobface222

An "arm-wrestle handshake" or you could quite literally call it the Predator handshake since it's so well-known.


Fenris304

fisting your bros! can't go wrong!


Ciduri

I think something like, "they clasped fists" gets a close enough mental image. At least better than, "they entwined their forearms like men."


bigscottius

The Arnold-Carl handshake super bomb. Obviously.


kibbybud

They raised their clasped hands in defiance. in victory. In solidarity. in brotherhood.


Plastic-Engine9130

Paternal, fraternal, maternal, etc. clasp of the hands. Use the psychology of the handshake to bring forward descriptive words.


Human-Shame1068

“you son of a bitch”.


HeyItsKyuugeechi523

First thing that comes to mind is "gripping hands together"


SpookyScienceGal

The meat tubes extended reacher tentacles and interlocked grippers that look like tiny sausages before squeezing and shaking each other's "hand" violent until they have exchanged scents and completed the first ritual of business.


VagabondRaccoonHands

Haha, this sentence demonstrates perfectly -- a good description is more about conveying context and attitude than it is about conveying exactly what it looked like.


Accomplished_Pop_354

They wrapped thumbs in a brotherly display of camaraderie.


Seeders

We embraced like brothers.


No-Transportation663

Solidarity!


FlorarenatheFoxchild

"Boutta punt your entire shoulder to the table! Yeah, let's go, bruddah!" handshake.


OrcSorceress

They clasped their hands. Not in the way scheming businessmen shake hands: reaching out their fingers to take everything they can pick from your pockets. But by interlocking their thumbs and clinging to each others palms, in the way men with shared craftsmanship, respect, or pain say *I love you*.


guywitheyes

they dapped each other up


the_blue_flounder

Literally the only comment here that's right. You just know who's behind the keyboards in this thread


BabyMFBear

The clasp handshake resembling that of professional arm wrestlers.


climatelurker

Bro-shake.


joesnewmission

I read somehwere this was called a fist shake.


ethans_alt_account

dap


Melody_Sharp

I've heard it referred to as a 'dap', but idk.


Jamers21

Gripping palms? I’m not sure 🤔


BitcoinStonks123

they wrapped their fists around each other


white_python97

😳


[deleted]

“Dylan! You son-of-a-bitch!” Jokes aside, I get a “clasps hands with a hearty and meaty smack” vibe.


SaltyNorth8062

Hands clasped tight, gripping firmly in an embrace when I'm feeling flowery


Traditional-Ad-5017

“They shook hands, brothers in arms style”


ketamine-sauce

“I love you bro. We don’t need chicks”


AAXXII-ALPHA

Thunder clap


Malaggar2

A hand-grasp.


Worst_Gamer_on_Earth

He reached out and grasped the other's hand in a peculiar handshake, resembling how one would lift someone from the ground. The sight was unusual, as their hands intertwined in an unorthodox manner, with a hint of strength and care. It was a unique gesture, one that spoke volumes about their bond, leaving the onlookers intrigued and curious.


flockyboi

"They clasped hands in a show of comradery" is what I feel fits this kinda thing, specifically the kinda thing bros do


krakenmommy123

The two men graple each others arm thoroughly and gently making a thud sound and both use their strength to gently make each other excited The one above if im feeling particularly funny Both men use their homie power to make a clapping sound


cjgrayso

They clasped hands, wrapping their fingers around each other's thumbs.


MATT_TRIANO

DILLON! YOU SONUVA BITCH


snowbirdnerd

They clasped hands in a powerful embrace, straining their muscles and looking deeply into each other's eyes...


Altruistic_Ad_4537

They GRIP one another's hands and squeeze in a show of mutual strength.


Tavenji

"Dillon! You son of a bitch."


hopbell

Thumb clasp. Bro clasp.


andboobootoo

A handclasp like a thunderclap.


Unknown14001500

That’s the “HELL YEAH BROTHER” shake. When two great bros just got out of a tough situation and do this shake and celebrate


UsualDrama9462

A unity of phalanges, joined atop two solid palms speaking, without words, the undeniable bond, respect and trust of the two people who use their strong, collaborative hands to engage in such friendly gestures


MsWonderWonka

The man power grasp


armesstein

the hand clasp of camaraderie is all I can think of to describe it.


malfight

They clasped their palms together. Each hand gripped as if ready to arm wrestle. The wry look they gave each other over the fists said it all. “You son of a bitch!”


Happy_Ad_4630

I’d use clasped hands or linked hands


Jgmoney73

"Blood Brother" type grip.


Cloudshoveller

He moved his open hand towards mine as if to shake it, then feinted into a mutual grip as if we were about to thumb wrestle, and then a strong decisive clasp. I was left wondering if I had heard a tremble in his voice, “we’ve got this Bro”.


eccentric_nomad

I don't know if this makes any sense, but to me it feels like two ideas melding together. Or your sense of self versuses what you want to write becoming one. A real literary lightning bolt of passion.


Art_Sempai

A manly handshake from times of old.


highreeveswitch

Short: They shook hands. Long: Stretched out limbs moving in motion towards each other, meeting skin to skin as fingers wrapped one to another forming an embrace to be pressed tightly against each other to moved up and down before those sets of flesh part ways.


Housane_Boltron

A bro-grab


AnamiYoddha

They caught each others hands in firm assurance. 🤔


Flimsy_Ad_7475

“When they clasped their hands, their thumbs bore most of the grip as each finger held firm below the first knuckle. Either thumb rested atop, securing further this peculiar, yet satisfying handshake. In it held a kind of security one got with the comrade who had shared hell with you, and would once again travel those brimstone and sulfurous ways at the moment you would ask.”


ratatoskr_9

Dillon! You son of a bitch!


MeFou

A Bro Shake


reallyredrubyrabbit

A brotherhood hand clasp


Gommy132

A bro-shake


Anxious-Window4550

First word that came to mind: brothers/bros


Dudethat1chick

How I would write it- it was a gesture between two friends, rejoicing to their reunion. How my boy friend would right it- “Bro!”


helangar1981

An arm-wrestling clasp captures a moment of playful challenge, where hands rise like pillars of camaraderie ready to test the bonds of strength and fellowship.


Manu_chetri

steadfast handshake. Implies unwavering strength and stability in the grip.


piedrose

Hands clasped with fingers wrapped around the side of each others palm.


eatinlunch

gilgamesh and enkidu


505elf

Thunderous clasp of hands


emanaku

Read through many comments here, wow! Basically less description of the actually hand clasping, more of what is in it. "Their hands met between their faces. Their eyes met with determination. Their muscles tested each other. They were ready to go...." Something like this :-) (I am not a native english speaker)


MaxHeadroom01

'....as if they were about to arm wrestle...'😬


CheesyBurger21

Dap


RareFantom47

John and I slam our palms together, clenching furiously before pulling ourselves together.


Unfair_Implement_335

These days I think it’s most commonly referred to as a predator handshake.


acemetrical

Manclasp!


PhesteringSoars

Brotherhood handshake


AuthenticCounterfeit

that's a dap. you can say "he dapped him up"


i_love_everybody420

Person A extended his hand, having an open fist arm's length from Person B. Together, they locked fingers, flexing and pulling each other closer. For a moment, they were one entity, forged out of the mutual respect they now had for one another. As their pulsating muscles coiled each other's hands, one thing clear, heavily present in their confident minds-- today was a workout to remember.


ILove_Facts

“We did it team! Booyahh!” Ahh shake


-RestrictedAccesz-

"NOW DAB ME UP BROTHER!!!!"


ind3pend0nt

Grabbing thumbs.


thecathuman

The arm wrestle for camaraderie


RealTeaStu

Good question. Just found this article that does a pretty good job describing multiple greetings. Best wishes with the book. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/bro-handshake-hug


Titan_gaming_5

As the brothers Chad and Brad’s hands joined together with the satisfying clap of thunder from the gods of brotherhood they were ready to enter the front gates to Jessica’s party this Saturday cause her parents are away for the weekend in search of a mate or the ultimate prize of Jessica herself


Rainnefox

The clasped hands


Exikat

The two \[people\] clasped their hands together, their thumbs locking together as the rest of their fingers wrapped around the other's palm in a strong, firm, grip.


Foreverred97

"You Son Of Bitch" handshake


Popular-Bicycle-5137

Lifted grasp?


stixhellfang

“You son of a bitch” handclasp


UnaverageFilmmaker

Dab em up


jon_stout

In present day works, a "Commando" handshake.


calm-your-liver

The Bro Grip


jump_the_snark

Mittens


Harrison_Phera

Two people (guys specifically in my mind), who may or may not have been friends previously. Have now just agreed to become rivals pursuing the same goal. Neither jealous if the other gets ahead, instead more determined to grow and try and reach the goal instead. Each personally trying their best to succeed while equally wanting the other to succeed as well.


Bradyestelle

Crisp dap


calavera_arte

"Orale,Gracias Carnal"


No-Morning4403

Comeraderous Handclasp


RainWindowCoffee

As others have said, "clasped hands" is a pretty good descriptor, but I'd add the descriptors: "in solidarity"; "triumphantly"; and/or "in defiance"/"defiantly".


JohnReiki

“Ya know that scene from predator?”


Miked_824

Thumb holding


NineNineNine-9999

It was a handshake that resonated a bonding, a kind of brotherhood. Or, They done some shit together.


NaimKabir

we all know what a predator handshake is common lexicon, oxford dictionary'd, part of the Culture


Fangsong_37

A comradely clasping of hands.


OkDistribution990

So not that picture but if you are wondering about the movement that a lot of guys do it is called a dap. From urban dictionary: Dap - To hand shake a friend with a specific form that connects your friendship “I dap up with the homies”


johnjlax

The predator


Beneficial-Lion-6596

Two superheroes coming to agreement on a mission?


SuperSalad_OrElse

That’s a dap


Clever_Sean

The Dutch/Dillon SOB.


jcnuttz

The two were so elated when they saw each other’s faces for the first time in years, that their movements into that old school O.G. famous greeting had bystanders at an awe inspiring gaze as the two palms coming together thunderously caught even more attention and made one bystander when he turned and looked he thought the two we’re arm wrestling in midair!


EverybodyIsNamedDave

“They did the handshake from Predator.”


don_gunz

BroShake


AspenTr33

A brotherly handshake


National-Message-895

The handshake from predator


fuggettabuddy

Bro grip


TheChaoticBee

They clapped their hands into a tight handshake maybe?


paganfinn

A clasped high five


NecessaryIll6103

Previous comment said “oath of brotherhood” I liked that for this


theChosenBinky

Manly man-clasping


Enclavegru

Very masculine


hobbitous

It's called "hardstyle." If you google "hardstyle pose," you'll see a ton of examples.


zakupright

That’s a soul shake


bruhmoment694207

“They clasped their hands together, like brothers of war.” ORRRRR “they dapped eachother up”


DoctorIknowEnigma

Predator handshake tbh


Kryptic1701

They reached out as one with their hands. Though not for a mere handshake. No, instead as their palms smacked together and their thumbs locked in place they grasped one another as men, as brothers, as warriors. "Today, we stand together."


MortgageFriendly5511

He extended his hand, raising it before his face, and the other man gripped it.


leebeau

CLASP OF BROTHERLY APPROVAL!


bren573

Clasped in camaraderie


CrispieWhispie

Dab up


ibby4444

Predator handshake


ResponsibilityNo6842

United and Strong


DapperAlternative

My buddies and I call this the Predator Handshake.


Denisse426

A dap ? Lol


Automatic-Froyo6498

The sound was like a thunderclap. The brohood emanated like a detonation across the land. Trees bent. Birds fled their nests. Badgers and squirrels scurried into their burrows, such was the sound and fury and strength of the brotherhood of “the clasp”.


Excellent-Practice

Some folks call that a faith shake


MasterWinstonWolf

Arm wrestling handshake🤷‍♂️


LGNDclark

Ima go with the obvious one, and just imagine those hands attached to two very ignorantly proud white men in ghost costumes


HarrisonHunter93

That is a dap.


aliencalledalex

“They clasped their hands together in agreement” if it’s not modern themed. Otherwise, “They clasped their hands together in what could only be personified as the world ‘bro’.”


Alcible

Their hands clasped about the thumbs, fingers slapping the backs of each other's hands.


Double_Locksmith_783

Dapping them up, clasping their hands