How to Sign “Deal” in American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) has no single sign that covers every meaning of the English word “deal.” Signers choose a sign based on the idea behind the word: reaching an agreement, handing out playing cards, or coping with a situation. This guide covers the commonly taught signs for each meaning. It also covers fingerspelling as a fallback and how to confirm your choice. The descriptions apply to ASL as used in the United States. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language, use different signs.

The short answer: choose the sign by meaning

Meaning of “deal” | Example sentence | Commonly used ASL approach

An agreement | “It’s a deal.” / “We made a deal.” | AGREE

Handing out cards | “Whose turn is it to deal?” | DEAL-CARDS, a sign that mimics dealing

Coping with or handling something | “I’ll deal with it.” | MANAGE / CONTROL

Unclear meaning or no known sign | Names, brands, idioms | Fingerspell D-E-A-L, or rephrase the idea

In the descriptions below, your “dominant hand” is the one you write with. Your “non-dominant hand” is the other one. Left-handed signers mirror every movement.

“Deal” as an agreement

When “deal” means two people have agreed on something, ASL usually expresses it with the sign AGREE. The sign combines the ideas of thinking and being the same.

• 1. Extend the index finger of your dominant hand and touch it to your forehead.
• 2. Bring that hand down in front of your body.
• 3. Extend the index finger of your non-dominant hand.
• 4. End with both index fingers side by side, pointing forward, palms facing down.

Your face carries part of the meaning. For “It’s a deal,” a confident nod adds emphasis. For the question “Deal?” or “Do we have a deal?”, raise your eyebrows while signing. Raised eyebrows mark a yes-or-no question in ASL.

“Deal” as in dealing cards

For card games, the commonly taught sign copies the physical action of dealing.

• 1. Hold your non-dominant hand in front of you as if it were holding a deck of cards.
• 2. Bring your dominant hand to the imaginary deck.
• 3. Flick your dominant thumb or hand outward several times, as if sending cards to each player.
• 4. Shift the direction slightly with each flick, so it looks like the cards are going to different people around a table.

“Deal with” something

“Deal with” in the sense of handling a task or problem is usually expressed with a sign glossed as MANAGE or CONTROL, not a separate sign for “deal.”

• 1. Hold both hands in front of you, palms facing each other.
• 2. Curl your index fingers, as if holding a horse’s reins.
• 3. Move your hands forward and back in alternation.

Depending on context, a signer might instead use a sign for fixing, handling or taking care of something. The best choice depends on what is actually being dealt with.

Fingerspelling as a fallback

Fingerspelling means spelling an English word letter by letter with the manual alphabet. It is always understood as a direct spelling of the word. It works for names, brand names, or any time you are unsure which sign fits. Hold your dominant hand at about shoulder height, palm facing out, and form each letter in turn.

• D: index finger points up; the other fingertips and thumb touch to form a rounded shape.
• E: fingertips curl down to rest above the thumb, which is tucked across the palm.
• A: closed fist with the thumb resting against the side of the index finger.
• L: index finger points up and thumb extends sideways, forming an L.

Fingerspelling is a reliable fallback, but it is not a substitute for a sign that fits the meaning. Phrases like “big deal” or “no big deal” are idioms and do not translate word for word into ASL. The supplied material does not confirm a specific sign for them. Ask a fluent signer how to express the intended meaning instead of signing each English word.

How to confirm you are signing it correctly

Written descriptions cannot fully capture handshape, movement, palm orientation and facial expression together. Before you rely on a sign, check it against these sources.

• Compare with video: watch the sign performed in a reputable ASL dictionary or course. Check that your handshape, starting position, movement and ending position match.
• Ask a Deaf or fluent signer: they can confirm whether your choice fits the context and is natural where you live. ASL has regional and generational variation.
• Check comprehension in conversation: if the person you are signing with looks unsure, fingerspell the word or rephrase the idea.

Limitations of this guide

No verified source evidence was supplied for this article. The sign descriptions above are the forms commonly taught in introductory ASL. They are not confirmed against a specific dictionary entry, and local or community variants may differ. Treat them as a starting point and verify them with video or a fluent signer before relying on them in important conversations.