There are a couple of ways to sign dry. To do the main sign for
"dry," change an index finger into an X handshape as your
pull your hand from left to right in front of your mouth. (Left handed
people do the opposite.)
You don't
actually touch the mouth.
DRY:
If you wanted to discuss DRYER as in clothes DRYER:
DRY-DRY:
DRY-SPIN-AROUND:
If you were discussing DRYER as in HAIR DRYER:
If you wanted to convey the topic of DRY CLEAN / DRY CLEANING, here are some options:
There is an idiom / ASL pun related to the sign for DRY:
DRY HOTDOG-meaning the discussion is DRY / BORING / DULL:
Also, you can sign DRY as in BORING / DULL this way:
If you were referring to a DESERT (as in a dry flat area) you could sign:
DRY-FLAT:
If you were referring to a DESERT (as in a dry area) you could sign:
DRY-AREA:
Notes:
Question: A student asked: What is the difference between DRY
and UGLY?
Answer: The index > X-hand version of DRY tends to be at the level of the
lips (when done formally). UGLY tends to be at just below the nose -- plus UGLY
tends to involve a negative facial expression. Yes, the two signs are rather
similar and sometimes may even look the same -- especially during casual signing
-- but you can make them look different by doing ugly a little higher and add
facial expression.
Also see: DRYER
DESERT
DRY CLEAN
Notes: