air quotes

Noun

air quote (plural air quotes)

1. (plural-normally) A typically two-handed gesture resembling quotation marks, indicating that the gesturer is speaking ironically or using unusual terminology.
   • You could hear the air quotes around ‘chill’ when he said it.2020, Ben Aaronovitch, False Value, Gollancz, page 11

   Synonyms:

   finger quote

2. (broadly, plural-normally) An emphatic tone of voice used to indicate a euphemism, or displeasure with a false or inaccurate phrase being quoted.
   • "So you were out with 'the boys'," she said vexedly, putting air quotes around the last two words.