Meaning of air quote | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A typically two-handed gesture resembling quotation marks, indicating that the gesturer is speaking ironically or using unusual terminology.
   plural-normally
2. An emphatic tone of voice used to indicate a euphemism, or displeasure with a false or inaccurate phrase being quoted.
   broadly, plural-normally

Equivalents

Examples

“You could hear the air quotes around ‘chill’ when he said it.”

“"So you were out with 'the boys'," she said vexedly, putting air quotes around the last two words.”

CEFR level