Obscene hand gestures

[rewast]

A question for the Brits among us: I'm curious about the obscene gesture made with the hand that seems to be specific to the British, the two-fingered raised like a victory sign, but knuckles forward. Is it approximately the same as the raised middle finger? Less offensive? More? Do the British also use the raised middle finger? Why or when would someone use one and not the other?

[Commander Tamson]

It's all in the flick matey.

Two fingers, knuckles in or out, but held steady = peace

two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = F.Off

Single middle finger, knuckle out = F.You

[SoiBiker]

It's all in the flick matey.

Two fingers, knuckles in or out, but held steady = peace

two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = F.Off

Single middle finger, knuckle out = F.You

Nonsense. It's the direction your hand faces that matters.

Also this guy disagrees with you on the 'peace' thing.

[Chicog]

One of the stories is that it originated in battle against the French at Agincourt, who used to lop the fingers off archers.

If archers still had two fingers, they supposedly flicked them at the cheese eating surrender monkeys as a gesture of defiance.

[SoiBiker]

One of the stories is that it originated in battle against the French at Agincourt, who used to lop the fingers off archers.

If archers still had two fingers, they supposedly flicked them at the cheese eating surrender monkeys as a gesture of defiance.

I think that's a myth. Good story though.

[Chicog]

It's all in the flick matey.

Two fingers, knuckles in or out, but held steady = peace

two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = F.Off

Single middle finger, knuckle out = F.You

Nonsense. It's the direction your hand faces that matters.

Also this guy disagrees with you on the 'peace' thing.

I'm pretty certain he was just making sure the waiter poured him a double.

[Commander Tamson]

Churchill? Agincourt? Mention those words to 95% of the people who use such gestures and if you don't get a blank stare you'll probably get one the gestures instead. The history or origin don't matter a damn - the OP is asking what they mean - as in now! Jeezus

Edited February 15, 2015 by Commander Tamson

[Costas2008]

Two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = Up Yours.

[Commander Tamson]

Two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = Up Yours.

Yes!

[SoiBiker]

Facing outwards means the same thing, flicked or not.

[Mcffee]

[rgs2001uk]

Is it approximately the same as the raised middle finger?

Yes.

Less offensive?

Depends where used, over here not many know its meaning.

More?

Same same, but different.

Do the British also use the raised middle finger?

Yes.

Why or when would someone use one and not the other?

I use the two fingered salute at UK football matches or when working with Brits.

Overseas I use the "flipping the bird" salute, which appears to be more international.

Be aware, I will never use these gestures on Thai roads, a place for everything and everything in its place.

[WhamBam]

V for Victory = knuckles INWARD

<deleted> off = V sign knuckles OUTWARD

<deleted> off 2 fingers = same as 1 finger.

[arunsakda]

Don't forget the Bras d'honneur. (More popular in the states).

[WheresWaldo]

It's all in the flick matey.

Two fingers, knuckles in or out, but held steady = peace

two fingers, knuckles out, flicked = F.Off

Single middle finger, knuckle out = F.You

Nonsense. It's the direction your hand faces that matters.

Also this guy disagrees with you on the 'peace' thing.

So does this guy:

But everybody pretty much agrees on the middle finger:

[arunsakda]

Don't forget the Bras d'honneur. (More popular in the states).

[Razzler1973]

I can't remember the last time I did or even saw the two fingers or single finger hand gesture actually

[Hostile]

One of the stories is that it originated in battle against the French at Agincourt, who used to lop the fingers off archers.

If archers still had two fingers, they supposedly flicked them at the cheese eating surrender monkeys as a gesture of defiance.

I heard that many times in uk. Archers thing

[rewast]

Is it approximately the same as the raised middle finger?

Yes.

Less offensive?

Depends where used, over here not many know its meaning.

More?

Same same, but different.

Do the British also use the raised middle finger?

Yes.

Why or when would someone use one and not the other?

I use the two fingered salute at UK football matches or when working with Brits.

Overseas I use the "flipping the bird" salute, which appears to be more international.

Be aware, I will never use these gestures on Thai roads, a place for everything and everything in its place.

Thank You RGS for answering the question.

[Squeegee]

The longbow (or English longbow, or Welsh longbow, see below) was a type of bow about 2.0 m (6 ft 6 in) long used in the Middle Ages both for hunting and as a weapon of war. It reached its zenith of perfection as a weapon in the hands of English and Welsh archers.

[...]

Origins

In the British Isles the weapon was first recorded as being used by the Welsh in AD 633

[...]

History

During the Anglo-Norman invasions of Wales, Welsh bowmen took a heavy toll on the invaders by using this extraordinary weapon of war. The English were quick to realise the impact that the longbow could produce on the battlefield. As soon as the Welsh campaign was successfully over, Welsh conscripts began to be incorporated into the English army. The lessons the English learned in Wales were later used with deadly effect on their enemies on the battlefields of France and Scotland.

The longbow decided a number of medieval battles fought by the English, the most significant of which was the Battle of Crécy and later the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longbow