To sign "one second," start by holding your non-dominant hand flat in front of you, with the fingers pointing up and the palm facing your dominant side. Form a "1" handshape with your dominant hand by extending your index finger. Place the palm-side of your dominant index finger against the palm of your non-dominant hand. Finally, pivot your dominant hand forward slightly at the wrist, mimicking the quick ticking motion of a clock's second hand.
You can use this sign to ask someone to wait briefly. Often, just signing "one second" with a polite, reassuring facial expression is enough to convey the entire meaning.
Sign "race," "win," and then "one second" to indicate the exact margin of victory. The crisp ticking motion emphasizes the precise, tiny unit of time.
Point to yourself, sign "ready," and follow it with "one second." This shows you need just a tiny bit more time before you are fully prepared.
You can use this sign to ask someone to wait briefly. Often, just signing "one second" with a polite, reassuring facial expression is enough to convey the entire meaning.
Sign "race," "win," and then "one second" to indicate the exact margin of victory. The crisp ticking motion emphasizes the precise, tiny unit of time.
Point to yourself, sign "ready," and follow it with "one second." This shows you need just a tiny bit more time before you are fully prepared.
While 'one second' literally refers to the unit of time, it is sometimes used casually to mean 'wait a brief moment.' However, if you specifically want someone to wait, the formal sign for 'wait' (wiggling fingers facing up) or simply holding up a single index finger ('hold on') is often more natural.
You can easily modify this sign for other small numbers! Just change your dominant handshape to a '2' or '3' and perform the exact same forward ticking motion against your non-dominant palm.
Yes, your non-dominant palm should face your dominant side. This creates a clear, flat surface for your dominant index finger to rest against and pivot forward, keeping the 'clock face' easily visible to the person you are signing to.
