different between handwavy vs handwave

English

Alternative forms

• hand-wavy

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?hænd?we?vi/

Adjective

handwavy (comparative more handwavy, superlative most handwavy)

1. (informal, of a demonstration, proof, or explanation) Missing important details or logical steps, perhaps instead appealing to laymen, common sense, tradition, intuition, or examples.

Related terms

• handwave

English

Etymology

hand +? wave

Noun

handwave (plural handwaves)

1. (literally) The wave of a hand.
   • 1871, Archibald Forbes, My Experiences of the War Between France and Germany, Volume II, 2005 facsimile edition, Adamant Media Corporation, page 354,

     The leader, an upright, broad-shouldered old man, with snow-white hair, half halts his horse with a handwave of salutation, as he reaches the Imperial Crown Prince, then gallops on with the latter hanging close on his flank.

   • "Papparazzi."

2. A glib statement or explanation that glosses over important details.

Verb

handwave (third-person singular simple present handwaves, present participle handwaving, simple past and past participle handwaved)

1. (rhetoric, academia) To explain something superficially, skipping over important details, perhaps appealing to intuition instead.

Translations

See also

• fudge (verb)
• handwavy
• wave of the hand