diamond hands
/ˈdaɪmənd hændz/
Very CommonHolding an investment through major losses or volatility without selling.
Can be admiring or mocking depending on context. A badge of honor in bull markets, a punchline in bear markets.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Down 60% and I am not selling. Diamond hands. | The person is holding despite major losses as a point of pride. | reddit, 2021 |
| 02 | My guy has had diamond hands on that GME position for 3 years lmao | Someone has refused to sell a position for an extremely long time. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | Diamond hands baby. This thing is going to recover. | Expressing conviction that the investment will rebound. | reddit, 2022 |
| 04 | Bro has diamond hands on a coin that is literally dead. No one can reach him. | Someone is irrationally holding a worthless asset. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- Someone refuses to sell despite a major price drop.
- Encouraging others not to panic sell.
- Describing someone who held through a crash and came out ahead.
- Sarcastically, when someone is holding a position that has gone to near zero.
Do not use it when
- Someone sold at a loss and is regretting it.Use “paper-hands” instead.
- You mean someone is patient in general.
Variations and related forms
Diamond hands vs paper hands
diamond hands
Diamond hands means you hold no matter what.
VS
paper-hands
Paper hands means you sell the moment things get uncomfortable.
Origin and context
Originated on Reddit's r/wallstreetbets, popularized during the GameStop short squeeze of January 2021. The emoji combination of a diamond and two hands became a symbol of holding under pressure.
- First seen
- 2020
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/diamond-handsUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0