Arms crossed emoji ๐
The arms crossed emoji ๐ shows a person with arms crossed in an X shape, signalling no, refusal or a firm stop. It is also called the person gesturing NO emoji.
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What the arms crossed emoji means
The arms crossed emoji ๐ is officially called person gesturing NO. It shows a person with their arms crossed in front of the body, forming an X shape. The gesture signals no, refusal or a firm stop.
In everyday chat, it can also express that something is not allowed, that you want someone to stop, or that you strongly disagree. The crossed arms give it a sense of physical blocking.
It is part of the person-gesture group in Unicode, alongside the person gesturing OK emoji and other body language emojis.
How people use the arms crossed emoji
People send ๐ to shut down an idea quickly. It works as a reply to a suggestion, a question or an unwanted invitation. For example, if someone asks โWant to join the 6am run?โ a simple ๐ says no without typing a word.
It adds a light-hearted but firm tone. โAre you coming to the meeting? ๐ โ can mean โNo, absolutely notโ without sounding rude. In group chats, ๐ can show you are completely against a plan.
On social media, it is often used to signal that something is cancelled or unacceptable, whether it is a bad fashion trend or a plot twist in a TV show.
- Turning down an invite
- Saying no to a bad idea
- Indicating something is off-limits
- Playfully refusing a dare
- Reacting to news you disagree with
Compare person gesturing NO with similar emoji
| Emoji | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| person gesturing NOU+1F645 | Arms crossed in an X shape, signalling refusal | |
| person gesturing OKU+1F646 | Arms raised in an O shape, signalling acceptance | |
| person frowningU+1F64D | Sad or displeased expression | |
| person poutingU+1F64E | Pouting expression, often used to show annoyance or displeasure | |
| person tipping handU+1F481 | One hand extended, often used for sass or information |
Gender and skin tone variations
The arms crossed emoji comes in three base versions: person gesturing NO ๐ , man gesturing NO ๐ โโ๏ธ, and woman gesturing NO ๐ โโ๏ธ. The person version is the gender-neutral form, while the man and woman versions use zero-width joiner sequences.
All three support skin tone modifiers, so you can send ๐ ๐ปโโ๏ธ for a light-skin-tone woman saying no, or ๐ ๐ฟโโ๏ธ for a dark-skin-tone man. You can also send ๐ ๐ป or ๐ ๐ฟ for gender-neutral versions with a specific skin tone.
These variations keep the same meaning of refusal or stop, and they are used the same way in messages. They simply let you tailor the emoji to the person you have in mind or to your own preference.
Similar emojis and how to type the arms crossed emoji
Several person-gesture emojis look similar at small sizes. The person frowning ๐ and person pouting ๐ both show displeased expressions, but their arms are not crossed. They convey sadness or annoyance rather than refusal.
The clearest contrast is with the person gesturing OK emoji ๐, which raises the arms in an O shape above the head instead of an X in front.
How to type or copy the arms crossed emoji
You can copy the arms crossed emoji directly from this page by selecting the character ๐ and choosing Copy. That works on both mobile and desktop, and you can paste it into any message or document.
To type it on a phone, open your emoji keyboard and search for the emoji.
On a desktop, use your systemโs emoji picker and search for the emoji.
Questions people ask
What does the arms crossed emoji mean?
The arms crossed emoji ๐ shows a person making an X with their arms, meaning no, stop or refusal. It is officially called person gesturing NO.
What does the woman gesturing no emoji mean?
The woman gesturing no emoji ๐ โโ๏ธ is the female version of the arms crossed emoji, used to say no or express disagreement.
What is the difference between ๐ and ๐?
The person gesturing NO emoji ๐ has arms crossed in an X to refuse, while the person gesturing OK emoji ๐ has arms raised in a circle to agree or accept.
Can I change the skin tone of the arms crossed emoji?
Yes, all versions of the arms crossed emoji support skin tone modifiers. You can choose a tone from your deviceโs emoji picker.
When should I use the arms crossed emoji?
Use it to turn down an invitation, reject an idea, or playfully show you strongly disagree. It works well in informal chats.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the Emoji Directory editorial team, without ads or sponsorship. Meanings describe how the emoji is commonly used in public posts and messages, not an official definition. Names, code points, versions, keywords and translations come from the Unicode Emoji 18.0 and CLDR data; shortcodes from the gemoji project. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake or a new usage? Tell us, or read how the directory is made.
