Paper Hands

What does it mean to have paper hands?

To sell a stock at the first sign of trouble

Among the users of Reddit's r/WallStreetBets subreddit, investors who sell a stock at the first sign of trouble are referred to as paper hands. While selling a stock in response to a price dip is sometimes the right call, r/WallStreetBets users view paper hands as weak, unprincipled investors, who don't have the fortitude to weather market swings.

In contrast to investors with paper hands, investors with diamond hands hold their stocks through market swings. Both labels, however, are often applied semi-ironically. Most investors, even the bros on the r/WallStreetBets subreddit, understand that investors have to buy, hold, and sell at the time that feels right to them.

Paper hands, diamond hands, tendies, and other r/WallStreetBets slang entered the public lexicon during early 2021's epic GameStop stock rollercoaster ride. Paper hands sold their stock in the middle of GameStop's many drastic rises and falls, while diamond hands held their stock through the event.

Example

So many people sold yesterday ... c'mon you paper hands. Don't you believe in the stock?
Sometimes, being a paper hand is the right choice
Sometimes, being a paper hand is the right choice

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Updated February 11, 2021

Paper hands definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Paper hands" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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