Winking is a way of conveying ideas and feelings without words. This way of communication is believed to have originated in ancient Norse mythology about the god Odin who exchanged one of his eyes to drink water from a well that could give him a lot of knowledge. Learning how to wink is simple enough, but knowing what it means or when to do it is tricky.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Learning How to Wink One Eye
Step 1. Make eye contact
When you wink at someone, the communication process will be established when that person sees it. So, before doing so, make eye contact with the intended person.
Step 2. Choose the one eye that feels most comfortable
Some people find one eye more comfortable when blinked, while others find both eyes equally comfortable.
- Try blinking left and right alternately to determine which is more comfortable for you.
- You may notice that when you try to wink one eye, your face looks more wrinkled than when you blink the other eye. When you try to blink one eye, you may also find it difficult to control the other eye. This will make you look like you're winking.
Step 3. Lower the eyelids
Lower the eyelid that you are going to blink while keeping the other eye open. When you're just starting out, you may need to concentrate more on this step.
Step 4. Lift your cheek muscles slightly
While learning how to wink one eye, you may need to lift your cheek muscles slightly to ensure that your eye is completely closed.
The more you practice, the less you'll be doing this
Step 5. Don't squint
Try not to squint the eyes that should be open. For beginners, trying to keep your eyes open can sometimes cause your eyes to look slanted.
The first time you try it, it's hard not to squint. With continued practice, this stage will become easier
Step 6. Open your eyes
After successfully closing one eye completely, open it again. That's how to wink!
Step 7. Practice in front of a mirror
When you're first learning how to wink, practicing alone in front of a mirror can help you. Make eye contact with your reflection in the mirror and practice.
With enough practice, a wink will feel and look more natural
Step 8. Practice on a friend
When you feel you can wink one eye, ask a friend to watch you do it. Friends can judge whether your blinking already looks good or still squinting the other eye, whether it looks natural or still forced.
Method 2 of 3: Knowing the Time to Wink
Step 1. Greet someone with a wink
After learning how to wink one eye, the next step is knowing when to do it. One of the uses of winking is to greet someone.
For example, imagine that you are at a party and are having a deep conversation with a friend. Another friend approached, but you do not want to spoil the atmosphere of the conversation that has been built. A wink can be used as a form of greeting that won't interrupt you and your friend's conversation
Step 2. Blink one eye to indicate a common understanding
Like Odin's missing eye, a wink can be a signal that you know something. Usually there is an implied meaning in it which indicates that you and the person being addressed have the same understanding of something that the other person does not know.
- For example, a wink can be used to pass a joke between you and a friend. A wink can mean: "I know you understand my joke, even though other people may not." It can also be used to show that you're joking when you've just said something ironic. For example, if one of your friends is good at history, you might say: “I have to write a pretty complicated history essay this week. If only I knew someone who could help me!” then wink.
- A wink like this can also be used to signal the start of the plans you have prepared. For example, if you and your friends are going to prank someone with a water balloon, a wink could mean “Get the water balloon now!”
Step 3. Convince someone with a wink
Winking one eye is also a gesture to reassure someone who is going through a difficult situation. Its function is almost like a pat on the back.
For example, imagine your friend is giving a speech, you know that she is very nervous. When a friend makes eye contact with you, a wink at him means: “You can do it!”
Step 4. Seduce someone with a wink
Winking one eye is also a form of flirting with the person you like.
- A wink like this means: “Hello, beautiful!”
- Some people think that a slow wink is very suitable for this purpose.
Step 5. Know the wrong time to wink
There are cases where a wink can cause an awkward situation or even get you into trouble. You have to be careful, especially when doing it to the opposite sex.
- Winking one eye at the opposite sex is often considered a form of temptation. If this is not your intention, think twice before doing it. If the person you're addressing doesn't know you well, he or she may misunderstand.
- Winking at the wrong situation can make people angry. A wink may imply that you are not taking the other person seriously. In addition, winking can also imply that you are behaving inappropriately. If you are in a position of authority, you have to be careful in choosing the right situation for a wink.
Method 3 of 3: Wink Online
Step 1. Use emojis
In this modern era, winking can also be done online. You can wink by using emoji via SMS or social networking sites.
- There are different types of winking emojis, depending on the type of phone, social media sites, etc.
- The winking emoji is usually used to convey a joke or tease.
Step 2. Use emoticons
Before emoji were invented, people used to use punctuation to make a winking facial expression. Some people still use this method because they are using an old cell phone or e-mail system that doesn't support emoji. You can make a wink emoticon this way:
- ;)
- ;-)
- (-!
- ~_^
Step 3. Use *wink*
One of the less common ways to wink in SMS or e-mail is to write "wink" between two asterisks. It functions like an emoticon or an emoji in that it conveys a joke or a tease.
Tips
- When practicing the wink, doing it slowly will make the training process easier because it can help train your cheek muscles.
- Make sure you only wink one eye, not both!
- When you wink one eye, don't do it too fast. If you go too fast, your eyes will look like they are twitching.
