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Archive Replay
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Sign of the Day
screwdriver
This sign uses the dominant hand to mimic holding and twisting a screwdriver, demonstrating its function
A2 Common Noun British Sign Language (BSL) Neutral
Today’s Snapshot
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Dominant hand forms a fist with the thumb extended upwards, mimicking gripping a tool handle
Repeated twisting motion of the wrist and forearm, as if turning a screw
Used when discussing tools, DIY tasks, or repairs
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 a G-hand with dominant hand
- Palm facing down or forward
- Hold hand in neutral space
- Twist wrist repeatedly as if turning a screw
Coach prompt
Practice forming a fist with the thumb up and twisting your wrist repeatedly
Signature details
Handshape
Dominant hand forms a fist with the thumb extended upwards, mimicking gripping a tool handle · Code G-hand variant
Dominant hand
Right
Symmetry
Asymmetric
Contact
Air
Palm orientation
Palm generally faces down or slightly forward
Eyebrows
Neutral
Eye gaze
At referent
Head movement
None
Mouth morpheme
Neutral, or lip pattern 'screwdriver'
Body shift
None
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.
1.[en] Can you pass me the screwdriver? / BSL:[YOU PASS ME SCREWDRIVER?]
Often accompanied by a slight forward movement, implying engagement with a screw
Best fit: Used when discussing tools, DIY tasks, or repairs
Mirror focus
Practice forming a fist with the thumb up and twisting your wrist repeatedly
Catch the slip
Ensure your handshape firmly represents gripping a tool and the twisting movement is clear
Use it today
1.[en] Can you pass me the screwdriver? / BSL:[YOU PASS ME SCREWDRIVER?]
Common mistakes: Incorrect handshape or insufficient twisting motion
When not to use it: Do not use for the alcoholic drink; use the sign for 'drink' or 'cocktail'
Regional note: Minor variations in specific hand position or angle
1.[en] I need a screwdriver. / BSL:[I NEED SCREWDRIVER]
2.[en] Find the screwdriver. / BSL:[FIND SCREWDRIVER]
3.[en] He used a screwdriver. / BSL:[HE USE SCREWDRIVER]
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Word web
Driver
turnscrew
Screw
tool
fix
repair
Tool
Screw
Fix
Repair
Hammer
Wrench
DRILL: The sign for 'drill' often involves two hands, with the dominant hand making a similar G-hand or S-hand shape, but often with a more vigorous, sometimes two-handed, forward and back or rotating action, sometimes touching the non-dominant palm, to simulate drilling into a surface. 'Screwdriver' is typically one-handed and focuses on wrist twisting.
KEY: The sign for 'key' often uses a G-hand or K-hand, but the movement is a single or double turn of the wrist, often with the non-dominant hand acting as the lock. The twisting motion is usually less repetitive and more about insertion and a single turn compared to the sustained twisting of a screwdriver.
TURN (general action): A general sign for 'turn' can use various handshapes and movements depending on the context (e.g., turning a page, turning a corner). While it shares the twisting element, 'screwdriver' is specific to the tool's action, using a G-hand and a sustained, often smaller, twisting motion
Tools
DIY
construction
fix
hardware
BSL screwdriver
sign for tool
deaf vocabulary
Construction
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