Give him a high five?

[sky753]

Hello Everyone,


Yahoo online reports that early this month a surfer rescued a dog which had been swept off pier into Lake Michigan.

The reports at the end says"...the owner thanked Smolenski, the surfer, and gave him a high five"

My question here is what "give him a high five " mean here. Is it a idiom?


Thanks and best Regards


SKY

[riverkid]

Here's a pic.

http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...2/23446214.jpg

[Ouisch]

It's a congratulatory gesture. Two or more people slap each other's palms in the air, above their heads. Photo here

[sky753]

Thanks a lot for your pictures!!

Regards

SKy

[BobK]

... and if the recipient doesn't guess what you want to do, you say 'Gimme five' (or at least that's what my - American speaking - nephew used to say when his father had something in his hand and Rory wanted him to unclasp his hand [cunning little b*?!@r]).

b

[sky753]

Originally Posted by BobK

... and if the recipient doesn't guess what you want to do, you say 'Gimme five' (or at least that's what my - American speaking - nephew used to say when his father had something in his hand and Rory wanted him to unclasp his hand [cunning little b*?!@r]).

b

Under such circumstances,according to my understanding, you say "GIVMME FIVE", What you are intending to do is to give the receipient some impetus by clapping each others' palm so that he can get the results. Am I right?

Thanks

SKY

[BobK]

- and the V sound is often dropped.

b

[Soup]

Idiom: gimme five

slang
A greeting or a congratulation where two people slap their right palms together in the air.

_____________________________

High five, its origin and history: Click here, http://www.idiomsite.com/highfive.htm

[Ouisch]

Many years ago, "gimme five" meant that one person would extend his arm out, palm upwards, and the other person would gently slap his hand down onto the extended palm. During the late 1960s, this was the "hip" or "cool" version of a traditional handshake. If you extended your palm and the other person didn't immediately get your meaning and reciprocate, you'd say "gimme five, don't leave me hanging!", meaning don't make me stand here with my hand out.

Eventually the celebratory "high five" evolved, where either one or two hands are slapped overhead.

[sky753]

If such thing occurs here in China, we Chinese always say:" thank you a million for taking the risk of losing you life to rescue my dog. or other appreciation remarks like that." If a person is rescued, the rescuee or his relatives' responses are only to express their appreciations, saying something like, " you are so kind; how should i repay you; A compassionate person will have a prosperous and fortunate life; I would repay you even I became a cow or horse in my late life..." All in all only appreciations remarks can be heard under such circumstances, and the rescuee or the owner will not give the recuer some celebratory remarks maybe to share the happiness like westners do! This is one of the biggest cultural differences, I think!