Definition

1. Noun:
   • A gesture of greeting, agreement, or parting: The act of grasping and shaking another person's right hand, typically as a social or formal gesture.
   • A sign of agreement or conclusion: The act of shaking hands to signify the mutual acceptance of terms, such as at the end of a negotiation or the making of a contract.
   • A computing protocol: (In technical contexts) An exchange of signals between devices to establish communication.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • He greeted the visitor with a firm handshake.
  • The deal was sealed with a handshake.
  • The modem and the computer perform a handshake to establish a connection.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a bone-crushing handshake": to shake someone's hand with excessive force.
  • Be careful when you meet him; he has a bone-crushing handshake.
• "A handshake agreement": an agreement made informally, based on trust rather than a written contract.
  • They did business for years on a simple handshake agreement.

Variants and Related Words

• Handshaking (noun): The action or an instance of shaking hands. (Often used interchangeably with 'handshake').
  • Handshaking is a common business courtesy.
• Handshake can function as a modifier in compound nouns in technical fields (e.g., , ). These are considered distinct terms.

Synonyms

• Handclasp: A grasp or clasp of the hand.
• Handgrip: A firm grip with the hand.

Related Phrases

• "To shake hands (with someone)”: This is the verbal phrase describing the action.
  • It is customary to shake hands when you are introduced.
• “Golden handshake”: A large sum of money given to someone when they leave a company, especially as an incentive for early retirement.
  • The CEO received a golden handshake when he stepped down.

Related Idioms

• "To get the handshake": (Informal) To be dismissed from a job.
  • After the merger, many employees got the handshake.
• "A handshake and a smile": Denoting a friendly, agreeable, and often informal manner of conducting business or interaction.
  • He runs his business with a handshake and a smile.

Noun

1. grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)