I like words, but they're not always necessary

Last week I saw an English-speaking woman approach a Spanish-speaking child with two items of clothing. She held one in each hand and moved them alternately up and down. The child picked one.

A few days ago I was talking to the owner of the gym, who sometimes works in personal security. He said he recently saw a former Costa Rican President and First Lady at a restaurant, apparently unescorted. From across the room, he caught the man's eye, then hunched his shoulders and arms forward while holding his hands close together just below waist level. He then turned both hands palm-up and raised his eyebrows. Meaning? "Dude, where are your bodyguards?" The former President made a dismissive face.