When To Handshake, Fist Bump Or High Five?

[coccinelle]

Well that's my question. I'm used to handshaking here in France and high fiving young 'blacks' as they call themselves here but in England and the US (and elsewhere) when do you know which one to go for?

[sunny-dave]

Kissing seems popular - both cheeks, no tongues :)

[Cloverjo]

Handshake, I would say, when meeting new people, unless the other person seems to be going for something else.
Kissing is awkward for me. One kiss or two? I always get it wrong, and end up kissing air or bumping noses.

[society]

Handshake is the normal way to go. Unless the other person attempt to do otherwise, I always stick to handshake.

[FredPuli43]

Kissing? Yeurggh! Never know whether to start left or right. Aren't high fives for celebration?

[coccinelle]

Do they do kissing in the UK and the US? I thought it more a hug... When you kiss à la française on meeting up with someone it's to the right first (all depends on which area of France you're from as to whether you kiss 2, 3, or 4 times.)
I'm asking for how you now greet people in the UK and the US. When do you do the handshake (is it still when you meet someone for the first time?) and when they do the high five and fist bump.
I high five 'blacks' when I meet up with them not in celebration usually cos it's a while I haven't seen them. Do people in the UK fist bump?
Just wanted to know what the protocol was.

[society]

"Do people in the UK fist bump? "

Picture fat old ladies bumping each other to greet when they meet. :)

[SlackAlice]

I only do handshakes. Only exception is for female friends who get a hug and an 'air kiss'

[cupid04]

I think the Eskimo's have it, Don't they rub noses?

[Mosaic]

I generally find a clenched fist salute covers all persuasions.

[coccinelle]

society, I'm not talking of old ladies whether fat or slim, just in general.
I'm going to the UK shortly and just wondered how people greet each other nowadays, mainly the young ones between themselves and between young ones and people around the 50s. Some people I won't have seen for a long time do I just stand back and say 'Hi! How you're doing?' with no contact?

[daffy654]

I would just say 'hi' unless I were greeting someone in an official capacity (interview or doctor for eg), then I would shake hands.

[smurfchops]

We are very reserved over here so a hand shake is sufficient ...

[society]

I give you my answer @ 17.59


You must be quite young to wonder how to greet someone when you first meet them. Bumping and high-five-ing is informal, chavvy and gettoish in my opinion.

Greeting your friends with a bump or high-five would acceptable. But, would you greet an interviewer, an executive, school teacher or headmaster etc. with a bump or high-five?

[coccinelle]

So a handshake is fine even though I've met them before even if this was a while ago?
Anybody know when the Americans handshake, fist bump or high five?

[society]

You would always be safe with a handshake.

[Brinjal]

Hand shake don't come any closer.

[coccinelle]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I see that high fives and fist bumps are not usual in the UK.... so a solemn handshake is acceptable and normal to greet anybody.

[FredPuli43]

Correct, coccinelle, but we only shake hands on first introduction , and that not on every occasion; we reserve it for the slightly more formal ones, as at dinner parties when we meet strangers. People meeting strangers casually in a group with friends would not shake hands. On business meetings; with the bank manager or lawyer, say; we shake hands. This is all in marked contrast to French practice, where even young people meeting up will shake hands and every time I drop by at my French estate agent, who I have known for thirty years, I shake hands with him and any staff present.

[coccinelle]

Thanks Fred: so nothing's changed over the past 30 years on that score. I do appreciate your input.