How to Sign "Throw Up"
To sign 'throw up', start with both hands open with your fingers spread apart (the '5' handshape), positioned near your chin or upper chest. Move both hands forward and slightly downward in a quick, spewing motion, mimicking the action of vomiting. Make sure to include a nauseous or disgusted facial expression, such as opening your mouth slightly, scrunching your nose, or sticking your tongue out. This non-manual marker is essential to complete the sign and clearly convey the feeling of sickness.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is a great example of a highly iconic sign in ASL, meaning it visually resembles the real-world action it represents. The open hands with spread fingers moving forcefully outward from the mouth and chest area directly mimic the physical act of vomit spewing forth. The accompanying facial expression naturally mirrors the physical discomfort and reflex of throwing up, making the sign's meaning very intuitive, visually logical, and easy to remember for beginners learning the language.
Signing Tips
Facial expressions are absolutely crucial for this sign. To make your signing look natural and expressive, scrunch your face, open your mouth slightly, or stick out your tongue to convey a genuine feeling of nausea. The movement of your hands should be quick, outward, and somewhat forceful, matching the sudden and uncontrollable nature of the action. Don't be afraid to exaggerate your expression, as ASL relies heavily on these visual cues to communicate tone and intensity effectively.
Common Mistakes
A very common mistake beginners make is keeping a completely neutral facial expression. Without the disgusted or sick look, the sign loses its visual impact and can look confusing. Another frequent error is making the hand movement too slow, too gentle, or keeping your hands too close to your body. The motion needs to clearly and forcefully show something spewing outward from the mouth and chest area. Remember that the speed and intensity of the movement help convey the meaning.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Throw Up" in a Sentence
1I feel like I'm going to throw up.
To sign this, point to yourself for 'I', sign 'FEEL' by brushing your middle finger up your chest, and then use the 'throw up' sign. Be sure to maintain a sick, uncomfortable facial expression throughout the sentence.
2The dog threw up on the floor.
Start by signing 'DOG', then perform the 'throw up' sign, and finish by signing 'FLOOR' (flat hands moving apart horizontally). The forceful outward motion of the sign clearly shows what happened.
3Are you going to throw up?
Point to the person for 'YOU', sign 'THROW UP', and raise your eyebrows while leaning forward slightly. Raising your eyebrows is the standard grammatical marker for asking a yes/no question in ASL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this sign the same for 'vomit' and 'puke'?
Yes, this sign is used interchangeably for 'throw up', 'vomit', 'puke', 'barf', and other similar English terms. In ASL, the focus is on the concept and the action rather than the specific English vocabulary word, so the meaning remains exactly the same regardless of which translation you use.
Do I need to make a gagging sound when signing this?
No, ASL is a visual language and does not require any vocalizations or sound effects. However, making a gagging, open-mouth, or disgusted facial expression is extremely important. These non-manual markers act as the 'tone of voice' and are necessary to convey the physical action accurately.
Can I use this sign metaphorically, like for 'word vomit'?
Yes! While it is primarily used for physical sickness, you can sometimes use it metaphorically. For example, it can express extreme disgust at a situation, or convey the idea of spewing out too much information at once, depending heavily on the context and your facial expressions.
Related ASL Signs
