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Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Sign of the Day
centre punch
The sign uses a G-hand to mimic a centre punch striking a surface. The sharp, repeated motion shows its function for marking
B1 Technical Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Technical
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Dominant G-hand, index finger extended, thumb along side
Sharp, short, repeated downward/forward striking motion
When discussing tools, DIY, engineering, metalwork, precise marking
Break It Down
Watch, build, and feel the movement
Use the numbered steps first, then check the sign anatomy cards to clean up the small details that make the sign look fluent instead of approximate.
How to form the sign
- Form dominant G-hand, index finger extended
- Point finger down/forward, palm down/forward
- Make sharp, short, repeated downward/forward striking motion
- Often near non-dominant hand holding imaginary object
Coach prompt
Practice the sharp, repeated downward strike with the G-hand. Ensure your index finger is straight
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant G-hand, index finger extended, thumb along side · Code G
Dominant hand
Either
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Down or forward, depending on imagined angle of use
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
At referent
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
"pah" or "th" for precision/impact (optional)
Body shift
Slight forward lean for precision/impact
Use It Today
Move from recognition to real-life use
Everything below is designed to make the sign sticky: where it feels natural, what learners miss, and how to use it without sounding robotic.
I need a centre punch to mark this metal
Often accompanied by a non-dominant hand holding an imaginary workpiece
Best fit: When discussing tools, DIY, engineering, metalwork, precise marking
Mirror focus
Practice the sharp, repeated downward strike with the G-hand. Ensure your index finger is straight
Catch the slip
Focus on the G-handshape and short, sharp, repeated movement. Avoid a gentle poke
Use it today
I need a centre punch to mark this metal
Common mistakes: Not sharp enough movement; wrong handshape (e.g., bent finger)
When not to use it: General conversation not involving tools or precision marking
Regional note: Minimal, standard sign
Cultural note: N/A specific to this sign
1.[en] Do you have a centre punch? / BSL:[You have CENTRE-PUNCH?]
2.[en] I need to mark this. / BSL:[I NEED MARK THIS CENTRE-PUNCH.]
3.[en] Use the centre punch first. / BSL:[FIRST USE CENTRE-PUNCH.]
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Word web
Punch
dot punch
N/A
Drill
mark
metal
tool
Drill
Mark
Tool
Measure
Workshop
MARK (noun/verb): Uses the non-dominant palm as a surface and the dominant G-hand (or F-hand for a pen) to make a stroke. "Centre punch" involves a striking motion to create a dot, not a stroke.
DRILL (noun/verb): Uses a dominant C-hand or S-hand with a twisting, downward motion, mimicking drilling. "Centre punch" is a sharp, linear strike to prepare for drilling, not the drilling itself.
POINT (verb): Often a simple G-hand pointing. "Centre punch" adds the specific sharp, repeated, percussive movement characteristic of the tool's action
Tools
workshop
engineering
DIY
precision
Centre punch
punch tool
marking tool
BSL tools
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