I challenge anyone to find in writing what this means and to prove it. To my knowledge it could mean many things, not all of them insulting. I dont do it around strangers anymore because people have gotten so over sensitive, but if I dont do it to my friends they think I'm comeing down with something. I personally think too many of us are hung up about nothing, Am I wrong?
2007-04-05 07:21:47 · 8 answers · asked by grand ma 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Let me check on this.
Ok, I met the challenge:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=the+finger
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_(gesture)
2007-04-05 07:28:59 · answer #1 · answered by Marvinator 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
giving someone the finger or to shoot a bird means to hold up your middle finger with the rest of the fingers down. This is the most common meaning thats why people get so sensitive.
2007-04-05 14:31:31 · answer #2 · answered by sportschick3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't provide anything in writing for you but understand that it represents an erect phallus and means 'go have sex with yourself'. Of course, the fact that the British use two fingers sort of undermines this - what do the two fingers represent?
What nice message do you think it conveys?
2007-04-05 14:26:40 · answer #3 · answered by Dunrobin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in Australia, this gesture, is VERY RUDE! when you give it to a stranger, [ insult actually] but between friends, it's just means "who cares" even same to you, if someone came witha smart remark, then it's aquite innocent gesture, otherwise it's a deeply offensive one!! what you do, is stick your middle finger up in the air, and shake it. the innocent cheeky version is the finger you use when picking your nose then it means "you too" up yours!!
2007-04-06 07:38:32 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, this is your answer
Back in the day, arrows were made out from the "ewe" tree. People in battle would "pluck the ewe" when they would release the arrow from the bow. When these archers were captured, they would have their middle finges chopped off to prevent them from useing a bow again. It is said that these archers would flash their chopped off middle fingers to their enemies and yell "Pluck you!!"
Hence our adaptation of it.
2007-04-05 14:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by stolibabe2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are wrong. It has one, universal meaning... "you are Number #1, my friend!"
2007-04-05 14:40:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
F*** you!
Popular connotations take precedence.
2007-04-05 14:26:19 · answer #7 · answered by appalachianlimbo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've found the same thing to be true with the word, "******." And "*****."
2007-04-05 14:25:28 · answer #8 · answered by shirleykins 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋