How do you say finish in British sign language?

Answer 1

With both hands in front of you for the THUMBS UP sign, with both hands then rotate your hands in opposite directions i.e. left hand rotates anti-clockwise / right hand rotates anti-clockwise.

Be aware that in translating you do not translate words but ideas and so the sign you use could vary depending upon context [along with the part of the country (different dialects!)].

As an alternative, there is also the sign:

Hold both your hands up in front of you with the palms facing away; imagine you have a sock puppet on each and make them close their mouths by bringing the fingers down and the thumbs up to meet.

I have been learning BSL for the last year and in class we were taught the first, but I have also witnessed the second, but the context has been more of "finish, stop what you are doing" (like an imperative) instead of, say, "what time do you finish work". It was also suggested to us to use mobilesign provided by the University of Bristol Centre for Deaf Studies (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/deaf) which provides a dictionary and has short videos of the signs.

Answer 2

In British Sign Language, the sign for "finish" involves bringing both hands together in a clapping motion, moving them away from each other, and then squeezing them together again.