air quotes

plural noun

1. a gesture in which two fingers of each hand draw quotation marks in the air, used when uttering a word or phrase one does not think is appropriate or accurate. Compare scare quotes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of air quotes¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

You supply the air quotes to go around researching and industrial.

From The Daily Beast

But he feels they go too far in their sensitivity to perceived racism and sexism on-air quotes.

From The Daily Beast