When someone is offensive?

Question

If someone stuck there middle finger up at you or two fingers up at you in the UK its offensive....what does it mean ? Where did it come from in the first place? why 2 fingers and not 3 etc..?

Answer 1

The two fingers comes from the time of Agincourt when Henry V was fighting the French in France. When the French captured English bowmen they used to cut off 2 fingers so they could not use a longbow. So the English bowmen used to taunt the French soldiers by showing 2 fingers to them.
Battle of Agincourt October 25, 1415 -part of the 100 years war. The French lost over 6,000 men to, mainly, English archers whilst the English lost fewer than 450 men.

Answer 2

It is a myth that the two fingered gesture originates with the battle of Agincourt 1415. The story was that the French had threatened to cut off the fingers of the archers when captured. Following the victory that was very much due to the archers, they showed their two fingers contemptuously to the French. This gesture can be traced back to the early part of the 14th century during the hundred years war where it probably had the same meaning.
Another interpretation of this gesture is an inverted woman. The implication being that the losers' women will ravaged by the victors.
The extended middle finger gesture is intended to mimic the penis and testicles. This has its origins in ancient Greece.

Answer 3

Its to do with archers or something or nothing way back in a battle a long time ago. I can't remember who exactly it was but I am sure it had something to do with the french.

When an archer from one side got caught the other side used to cut off their index and middle fingers so they couldn't fire anymore naughty arrows. When they were in battle, they would stick up their index and middle fingers to show the other side that they still had them.

They were all very naughty and should have been grounded!

Answer 4

Because the French in the middle ages cut the 2 fingers off the English so they could not draw their bows so sticking them up at some one means foff basically

Answer 5

the 2 fingers insult known as the v's is back in the middle ages when we had archers. if we or the french caught an archer tey would cut of the middle and index finger so he couldnt shoot his bow again. so as in insult they would show the enemy they still had them.
the middle finger is a lot older buit im not sure where it comes from, but it represents an erect penis

Answer 6

roujinz3 is absolutely right. When enemies captured bowmen in old wars, they used to chop off their 2 fingers so they couldn't fire again - so the bowmen used to stick their fingers up to taunt the enemy.

As for the 1 finger.. I believe that started as a bit of an Americanism (No offense to anyone!), but I don't know any details about it.

Answer 7

These days, perhaps thanks to American vulgar sign language (no offence to legitimate American Sign Language intended). That middle finger intends to convey loosely the intent of the owner to wish the recipient thereof to go and (censored) self.
American English: Flipping off, or flipping the bird, giving the finger or the bird.
The most dignified: Throwing the bird
Note:
Some people take it humorously, others are ready to fight over it. Some may take it as an invitation.
Charles--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 8

Someone told me once it was back in the good old days when archers were around. Defeated armies would have their first two fingers cut off.

Answer 9

As far as i remember it was an insult to enemy archers who had been caught. They had their two fingers chopped off so were taunted with the two finger insult "naa naa iv got my fingers". If thats not true then i dont know.

Answer 10

Just like words, it's only offensive if you let it be. Sticks and stones...