DRY: The American Sign Language (ASL) sign for "dry"


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

UGLY




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