Don't make a "v" with hand in England?

Question

I lived in England when I was little.
And now, I study in a high school in Taiwan.
And My English say
"Don't make a v with your hand in England. It is really bad."
I don't know why??
Who can answer me!!! really need to know the answer plz!

Answer 1

it's a rude gesture to use your index finger and middle finger to make a 'V' - it heralds back to the long bowman days, they used to wave their two fingers to the french - if a long bowmen was caught, his fingers got chopped off! no longer able to fire arrows... they boasted the fact they still had 'em!

Answer 2

I never used to believe the story about the English bowmen and the French. However I was looking at a photo of a mediaeval illustration of an English army beseiging a French castle and I suddenly realised that all the English were showing the French their 2 fingers in a V sign. So it is true after all. The only thing is that some of the soldiers were holding the V upright and some had it sideways or even upside down. In those days it didn't seem to matter. That would have been about 600 years ago (battle of Agincourt 1415). How amazing that a gesture can be handed on for so long.

Answer 3

The traditional two-finger salute. It means in modern days a very rude two-word phrase that ends in "OFF".

Origin:
medieval wars between france and england - the english developed the Longbow which was like modern day nukes - kill the enemy at long range, no chance of them getting you back. On the occasions that the french managed to catch any archers, they would cut of the two first fingers of the drawing arm, thus neutralising that man as an enemy soldier. So, the intact english would taunt the french by showing them two fingers - "I'm gonna get you, 'cos I can still shoot".

Look at some old WWII footage of Churchill holding up the "V for Victory" - he inverted the sign, sure(in case caught on camera), but often waved it in the direction of Germany.

The brits knew EXACTLY what he was saying to Hitler.

Answer 4

Raising your index and middle finger together so that they are facing with the nail side away from you means 'F*** off' to an English person, the same as raising just the middle finger does in a lot of other countries.

The reason why the V sign exists is because in the Middle Ages when the English used to fight with the French, they used bows and arrows. To fire the arrows accurately, you needed the index and middle fingers of your hands. If an Englishman fell into a Frenchman's capture, the Frenchman would cut one or both of these fingers off, thus preventing the Englishman from ever firing a bow again. The English at battle with the French would raise both of these fingers in a gesture towards them as if to say, 'We've still got our fingers and so we can still fire at you'. Hence the modern day version of f*** off.

Answer 5

Hmm - do you mean making a v with your 2nd and middle fingers?

It is an insulting gesture (but I always thought just showing your middle finger was worse) and probably best not to do it to people.

There are various stories about its origins, but the common one seems to date back to the Middle ages when England was involved in various wars. English Bow Men used to dominate the battle field, so when captured the French used to chop off the fingers used to pull the bow string (the second and middle fingers). English bow men would therefore show the french they've still got their fingers to shoot them...!

I think Shakespeare wrote about it??

Answer 6

This could be the two fingered sallute (Reverse Churchills V for Victory).

This dates from the time when Archery was the main English weopon on the battle field. Captured archers would have their two bow fingers cut off, rendering them incapable of further fighting.

Telling your enamy where to go would involve the two fingered sallute (Look, I still have my fingers and am going to shoot arrows at you.)

Now, this sallute is less than complementary and sugests where the other person can stick their oppinions.

Answer 7

If you do it with the palm facing towards you, it's an insult, however if you do it with the palm facing out, it's the famous V for Victory sign as used by Winston Churchill

Answer 8

Depends which way around you hold your hand! Thumb to yourself is an insult the other way means victory as per Wintson Churchhill

Answer 9

It's considered a similar gesture to sticking your middle finger up and may be found offensive if it is done with the palm facing inwards. Apparently originated from the middle ages by archers sticking them up to their enemies because if the enemy caught them they'd cut those fingers off so they couldn't shoot arrows.

Answer 10

yep most people are spot on it dates from the longbow men showing their fingers to the french..a great british tradition which sadly is dying out and being replaced by the american middle finger.. booo keep british traditions alive thats what i say