# hand waving

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hand-waving
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.

## Examples

- His answer was just hand waving, not real proof.
- The politician's speech was full of hand waving, with no clear plan to fix the economy.
- When pressed for details, the scientist admitted his calculations contained a certain amount of hand waving, as the data was still incomplete.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.