If you’re uncomfortable:
Keep handshakes brief and firm.
Step back slightly after greeting.
Redirect with verbal warmth (“Great to meet you!”) to depersonalize the moment.
The Bottom Line
A palm scratch during a handshake exists in the gray space between accident and intention. It can be:
A whisper of attraction
A coded hello
Or just a clumsy grip
But its power lies in its ambiguity—allowing both parties to interpret, respond, or ignore it as they choose.
“Sometimes, the smallest touch speaks the loudest—especially when no one else notices.”
Have you ever experienced this gesture? Did you think it was flirtation—or just a fluke? Share your story below—we’re all decoding human connection together. ✋
