Meaning & use
furtive gestures
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Meanings
phraseplural
Small movements of the hands or body made quietly and quickly so that others will not notice.
Grammar: Always plural in this phrase; for one movement say 'a furtive gesture'.
Patterns
- make furtive gestures
- furtive gestures toward something
- a furtive gesture
The students made furtive gestures toward the clock during the test.
He kept making furtive gestures at his friend across the room.
She noticed a furtive gesture behind the curtain but said nothing.
phrasepluraldisapproving
Actions that seem secretive and suggest someone is hiding something.
Grammar: Used more broadly for behavior, not only hand movements.
Patterns
- furtive gestures of something
- be full of furtive gestures
The meeting was full of furtive gestures and whispered asides.
His furtive gestures made the guards suspicious.
Common combinations
- make furtive gestures
- They made furtive gestures to warn him to be quiet.
- a furtive glance
- She gave a furtive glance at her phone under the desk.
- furtive movements
- The camera caught his furtive movements near the door.
- in a furtive way
- He smiled in a furtive way and slipped out of the room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- secretive
- Describes a person or manner that hides information; 'furtive' often adds a sense of quick, guilty movement.
- sneaky
- More informal and slightly more disapproving than 'furtive'.
- stealthy
- Emphasizes moving quietly to avoid detection, often without the idea of guilt.
Opposites
Word family
- furtively adverb
- In a secretive, unnoticed way.
- furtiveness noun
- The quality of being secretive or sly.
Commonly confused: furtive gestures or futile?
furtive gestures vs futile
'Futile' means useless or having no effect, and sounds similar, but it has nothing to do with secrecy.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'furtive gestures' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Furtive' means secretive and unnoticed, so signaling quietly fits. The other options describe being loud, obvious, or attention-seeking, which is the opposite of furtive.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “furtive gestures”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.