However, it is important to remember that this interpretation is not universal. Not everyone who makes this gesture intends it as a romantic signal.
Culture can change the meaning
Body language varies widely around the world. A gesture that means one thing in one culture may carry a completely different message somewhere else.
In many Western countries, scratching someone’s palm during a handshake might simply be ignored or seen as meaningless. Some people may not even notice it.
In parts of Africa and the Caribbean, however, the gesture is sometimes understood as a sign of romantic or sexual interest when it happens during a handshake. In that cultural context, the signal may be more widely recognized.
In many Asian cultures, where public physical contact tends to be more restrained, the same gesture might feel confusing or inappropriate rather than flirtatious.
Because of these differences, it is difficult to interpret the gesture without understanding the cultural background of the people involved.