What is a party dot tattoo?

A party dot tattoo is a pattern of three to five small dots, often tattooed on the webbed part of the hand between the thumb and index finger or on the skin near the outer corner of the eye. Meanings or interpretations of the tattoos vary, depending on context.

Some dot pattern tattoos have been associated with gang life, referring to the three places gang members are thought to end up: hospitals, prisons and graves. Other communities equate three dots to mean "mi vida loca," or "my crazy life." Some party dot tattoos follow a more literal meaning; the person was simply tattooed while intoxicated.