Dead fish - It’s one of the most discouraging handshakes possible, especially when the hand is cold or sticky. The touch of a flaccid and limp hand brings to mind a person with weak character. Receiver of “dead fish” handshake can think that you don’t care about your relations with him.
The clamp - This moderately convincing handshake is characteristic for businessmen and expresses willingness of taking control over the conversation. Rapid, strong clamp followed by few short and jerky shakes could also indicate a shy person who is afraid of being dominated.
Bone crusher - A distant cousin to “the clamp” is “bone crusher” – without a doubt the worst of all handshakes. Everybody is afraid to encounter it, as it leaves unpleasant feelings on your mind and fingers. The only person “bone crusher” is making good impression on, is a crusher himself. It’s characteristic for “tough guys” who don’t miss any opportunity to intimidate their opponent and squash their palm.
Finger grabber - It happens when a person “misses” and grabs just the fingers of the receiver and sometimes is a result of uncomfortable position towards each other during greeting. Often appears when man shakes woman’s hand and he’s trying not to hurt her.
Stiff arm - Used mainly by aggressive types and its purpose is to keep the other person on distance and far way. People like this would lean a little and balance on their fingers to keep you out of their private space.
Hand puller - Used with pleasure by people wanting to express their dominance. Usually ends in a strong discomfort of even pain for the receiver, when his hand is suddenly pulled closer to the other person. It can have it’s reason in the person giving this handshake feeling insecure and wanting to take control over you by dragging into his personal space. But it’s sometimes also connected to the characteristics of culture, where people prefer to keep a shorter physical distance during conversation.Pump - When a initiator grabs your hand and shakes in a movement that resembles pump. It usually originates from rural areas.
Dutch grab - It’s a gesture that originated from Netherlands, because one can actually hear there, that he is “Geeft ‘n hand als bosje wortelijes”, which means more or less “the person, whose hand during a handshake