air quotes

plural noun

1. a gesture in which two fingers of each hand draw quotation marks in the air, used when uttering a word or phrase one does not think is appropriate or accurate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of air quotes¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Her fingers make air quotes to emphasize the irony of the perpetrator being favored over his victims, an injustice she’d rectify decades later in her fiction.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Dahlia and I always put this “doctrine” in air quotes.

Read more on Slate

"And this executive order is 'necessary to prevent future lab leak pandemics', which of course, don't happen," Rasmussen said, making air quotes.

Read more on Salon

“Like, how can I be an ‘expert’ — and I say that with heavy, heavy air quotes — and still be struggling in this way?”

Read more on New York Times

“Josie stepped out of line all the time, and they never sent her away. She was a bad influence on Max”—Ivy put “bad influence” in air quotes—“and the teacher never stopped her from laughing too loud or shouting out ‘Ooo, this is so great!

Read more on Literature