Putting Meaning into "Meaningless" Gestures

Women do it all the time -- analyze what each little glance or touch means. And by analyze, I mean overanalyze. To us, there's no such thing as a touch without meaning (especially since we suspect guys to have ulterior motives from the start).

So in honor AXE's "Find Your Touch" month, we're here to let you know what those little "meaningless" gestures mean. Here's a cheat sheet. Refer to it often.

When you: Grab a handful from behind or playfully goose us
It means: You want some sexual attention. It's a teasing way to say, "Hey, remember me?" It also shows us you're confident and secure enough to boldly ask for a little sugar. To keep it from crossing into a "marking your territory" maneuver, keep it discreet in the general public, as opposed to advertising it to your buddies. (They already got the message when you made us wear the "She's mine, hands off" sign.)

When you: Wrap your arm around our waist as we walk
It means: You trust us. It signals a comfortable harmony between us, whether we're lovers or just friends. It shows the world we're a united pair. Or that we're Siamese twins.

When you: Sneak a thigh rub under the table
It means: You're lusting and you want us to know it. If we turn toward you or cross our legs on top of your hand, we want you too. Now if we use this move on you, it's likely we want to draw your attention away from the waitress's cleavage without throwing a tantrum.

When you: Hold our hand
It means: The palm to palm position means you're relaxed and content with our relationship. But if you really want to show us you care, switch to an interlaced finger hold, which signals intense intimacy.

When you: Stroke our hair or brush it from our face
It means: You're into us in a big way. It stems from evolution -- primates groom each other to show fondness. Do this in public is a loud declaration of togetherness. In private, it's saying "I want to take care of you." That, or "I'm a metrosexual and want to know what kind of conditioner you use."

When you: Pull us onto your lap
It means: You are getting close and want to advertise that closeness by saying, "I'm glad you're with me." It can also mean you just want to feel our bodies close to yours. Either way, it's a good thing.

When you: Hold our face when you kiss us
It means: You're in love. It's usually a spontaneous outpouring of emotion and connection, as opposed to something you think about. This may be the first clue we have how into us you are, so don't mess with this move until you're ready to move the relationship forward.