What is the meaning and origin of the wink?
The wink. This is something that fits perfectly into the framework of body language. Besides, it has no other use than communication. The only other case where we only close one eye is to aim, but then we can hardly speak of a blink.
What is its meaning ?
The wink can have several meanings, but all revolve around the idea of connivance, complicity, even secrecy. To wink at someone is to establish a direct link. We can consider that‘there are 3 cases in which it is used.
- Humor: we often use the wink when we use humor. Either to prevent that it is, or to invite you to participate in the joke. This will be the case, for example, if we try to make someone believe something, and we work together to make the story more credible.
- Complicity : if we give you a wink, it may mean that you have been made the accomplice of a mischief. Imagine a friend of yours who lied to his wife and said he spent the evening with you when he was wrong. If he gives you a discreet wink at this moment, it is to tell you to give the change and to serve as an alibi. Conversely, if you catch your grandma giving herself a little treat and wink at her, it is to say that you will keep the secret.
- The dredge: it is often associated with flirting, but quite frankly, have you ever seen someone do it? In fact, the wink in these circumstances is related to silent films. It was a handy visual way to get the point across. The directors of the time did not deprive themselves of it. Nowadays, it seems very unlikely that anyone will do it. Getting a woman’s sympathy like this seems like a risky bet.. Even less since #metoo!
What is its origin ?
Its origin is obscure, but seems to take place on the battlefields in the musket era. You have surely already seen, in films or in pictures, these rows of soldiers firing their bullets in unison. The problem is that at this precise moment, the powder of the muskets ignites. In order to protect their eyes, the men therefore closed their left eyes. The veterans, feeling the order to fire arrive, closed their eyes a little before. It was the signal for the bluesaille, which did the same. Outside of battles, this gesture became a signal for the start of the action, usually a fight.
To note that the wink does not mean the same everywhere in the world and that we must be wary. So it would seem that this gesture is highly insulting in China. In Nigeria, on the other hand, people blink an eye to invite children to leave a room when an adult conversation begins.
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