The handshake (and other forms of greeting).

Things to avoid
Don’t...
...move forward too
much, invading the other
person’s personal space!
...do more than three
shakes!
...twist your hand
so that your hand is
covering theirs in a bid to
dominate them!

HI, I’M
GRAHAM. IT’S
A PLEASURE TO
...hold onto the other
MEET YOU! person’s hand and refuse
to let go!

...pull your hand away too

How do you greet friends, colleagues or members of your quickly!
family? This new mini-series will focus on typical ways of ...wipe your hand on your
greeting one another in English-speaking countries. In clothes after shaking the
this first part: the handshake. other person’s hand.

A handshake is a form of greeting that’s used a lot in Phrases to say when

business. According to numerous studies, it contributes a ...offer your fingertips! you meet someone
...grasp the other
lot to first impressions. Here’s how to perform the perfect person’s arm! Hi, I’m Nicola Simmonds.
handshake. For more information on shaking hands, see It’s great to meet you.
the article on the following page. How do you do?
Pleased to meet you.
(Amelia Best). It’s a
pleasure to meet you.
It’s an honour to meet
you. [to someone really
important / famous, etc.]
...put your other hand on
top of theirs for a double Phrases to say when
1 2 handshake! saying goodbye
It was a pleasure to meet
you.
It’s been great talking to
you.
I look forward to doing
business with you.
3 4 Thank you so much for
...hold onto the other meeting with me.
person’s elbow or It was nice to meet you.
shoulder!
GLOSSARY
limp adj
if you describe something as “limp”, you’re
saying that it’s soft or weak when it should
be firm or strong
5 6 to refuse vb
if you “refuse” to do something, you say
that you won’t do that thing
Shaking hands with someone you’ve never met before to let go exp
when you “let go” of someone’s hand, you
1. Step forward towards the other person. stop holding onto it and release it
2. Extend your right hand. ...squeeze too hard – you a fingertip n

3. Take the other’s person’s right hand in your right hand. don’t want to hurt them! the end of your finger
to grasp vb
if you “grasp” something, you take it in your
4. Look the other person in the eyes, smile and say “How hand and hold it very firmly
do you do?” (or any of the other phrases from the box an elbow n
the joint in the middle of your arm
on this page). Then, say your name and surname: “I’m a shoulder n
Brian Conrad.” If the other person tells you their name, the joint at the top of your arm between
your arm and body
repeat it back (this will help you remember it). to squeeze vb
if you “squeeze” something, you press it
A: How do you do? I’m Brian Conrad. firmly (often with your hands)
B: How do you do? Alexandra Scott. sweaty adj
...pull the other if a part of someone’s body is “sweaty”, it is
A: Pleased to meet you, Alexandra. person towards you covered in sweat (liquid from your body)
5. Shake the other person’s hand, moving it up and down aggressively!
to twist vb
to turn
once or twice. Use a good, solid firm, handshake (not ...offer the other person a in a bid to exp
in an attempt to
too hard and definitely not limp). wet or sweaty hand – dry to wipe vb
6. Finally, take your hand back, and step back. it first! to clean

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