fist pump

American  

[fist puhmp] / ˈfɪst ˌpʌmp /

noun

Informal.

1. a gesture of enthusiasm, victory, etc., in which one raises a fist and thrusts the forearm quickly and forcefully forward or downward.

---

Other Word Forms

• fist-pump verb (used with or without object)

Etymology

Origin of fist pump

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Warrican finally had the batter caught out at long-on with his left-arm spin for his third wicket and celebrated with a fist pump.

From Barron's • Oct. 11, 2025

The first called third strike came in the fifth inning, when Pawol used a fist pump when calling out Miami’s Kyle Stowers on a pitch that was close to the edge of the plate.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

Rose, who had three bogeys and one birdie in a typically gutsy 73, gave a huge fist pump after holing a six-footer for par at the last.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

Murphy had edged two frames on the black early in the contest and responded with a fist pump, before Maguire did likewise, punching the table and then the air at the end of Saturday's action.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2024

Miss Ohio mouthed while making a small fist pump.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray