I;ve come on holiday from London and ive noticed some very nice young people using the middle finger and smiling at me...What does this mean?is this a way of saying hello in your country? Thank you ever so much for asnswering.
2006-09-02 19:01:10 · 44 answers · asked by ? 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
In America it means that you love everyone and wish them well, so when you come to America, make sure you do it to EVERYONE, if not you will be considered rude.
OOOOOOOH I'm just kidding, hehe, but I don't know what it means in other countries but do NOT do it in America, it means F*** YOU. Not good!!! :)
2006-09-02 19:04:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It actually has it's origins in England. Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore [soldiers would] be incapable of fighting in the future. This famous weapon was made of the native English yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was known as "plucking the yew." Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle fingers at the defeated French, saying, "See, we can still pluck yew!"
Over the years some "folk etymologies" have grown up around this symbolic gesture. Since "pluck yew" is rather difficult to say, like "pheasant mother plucker," which is who you had to go to for the feathers used on the arrows for the longbow, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to a labiodental fricative "f," and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger salute are mistakenly thought to have something to do with an intimate encounter. It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrows that the gesture is known as "giving the bird."
2006-09-02 19:34:11 · answer #2 · answered by Stripped 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think all of you guys who are replying to this answer is wrong or at least the ones being rude. Daisy those young American that you thought were nice were not so nice they were saying f*ck you to you
and I apologies for their stupidity and I hope you enjoyed your stay when you were here.
2006-09-08 17:32:50 · answer #3 · answered by randrnorman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a rude gesture in America that symbolizes F*** off. Please don't let anyone on this board or street con you into thinking it is a polite gesture it is rude. ignore it and don't do it unless you are asking for trouble. Sorry you have had to run into so many rude Americans on the street an responding to you. Personally I do not like a majority of these rude answers on this board replying to you.
2006-09-08 17:29:30 · answer #4 · answered by tazachusetts 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ahh....a european asking what America's bird means...priceless.
Here's a spunky response, in france what does it mean to make the okay symbol? I'm sure you know what it is, the thumb and first finger meet like a circle and the other three fingers ont he hand spread out.
It's basically the same thing, same idea in mind.
When the crude and crass stereotypical bronx newyorker grabs their crotch and thrusts their hips, that is another symbol of basically the same thing.
In all essence, it's a rude gesture that idiots do when they are trying to show off. Basically offering you something of theirs to nurse off of.
I'm sorry you were witness to our ignorant crowd, there seems to be so many of them nowdays. Do not let anyone fool you and lead you to believe it means you are number one.
2006-09-02 20:01:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The same thing as when you over there, put your pointer finger and middle finger up at the same time.... FX off So smile back at them and lick in between your two fingers they will stop real quick!
2006-09-02 19:16:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the middle finger is the longest of the hand, symbolizing the penis...you can guess the rest.
You must have been staring at them or looking at them too long...and they got annoyed of it.
2006-09-08 07:45:12 · answer #7 · answered by incognitas8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smart enough to travel? Lookie here, Sister - if you are trying a one-woman crusade to take the 'sting' out of a very rude and not exclusively American hand gesture you are wasting your time.
I must say you do it well, though. Marche on! Cheerio.
2006-09-10 17:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't sound like you are from London, everybody I know from England is well aware what flipping someone off means here in the USA or over there.
At least they were smiling
2006-09-10 02:44:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pluck Yew
2006-09-02 19:06:37 · answer #10 · answered by Soda Popinski 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pay little attention to most of everyones' comment,.........they're being very mean to you!!!!
The middle finger straight up is a very vulgar expression, and it is NOT nice AT all!!!!!!
Do NOT do it back to them, just turn your head and ignore them!!!!! Eventually, you'll meet some genuine folks who don't 'speak' in that manner!
2006-09-10 11:50:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋