high five

The high five is a gesture where two people slap their upraised hands together, often in celebration or greeting. While its exact origin is debated, the most widely accepted story credits Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke with popularizing it in 1977 after a home run.12

Other accounts suggest the gesture may have roots in post-World War II Japan among American servicemen, or as a variation of the "low five" greeting common in African American culture. Regardless of its precise invention, the high five has become a globally recognized and simple expression of camaraderie and achievement.2