A few days ago
What does it mean, and where does it come from when you show your index and middle finger in England?
It’s a honest question. I just want to know its origins.
Top 9 Answers
A few days ago
Favorite Answer
It is commonly ascribed to the battle of Agincourt The British were outnumber by the French, but due to the skill of their archers, they managed to hold off the larger force. When the French captured a bowman, they cut off his index and middle fingers, thereby rendering him as no longer a threat as he was unable to pull back the bow. The English archers taunted the French by “waggling” these two fingers at them…. to show they still had them, and were still able to shoot. The sentiment remains the same today.
2
A few days ago
well, in the mid ages, wars were fought with swords and bows and arrows. If you were a soldier with a bow and arrow you would know that to use the bow and arrow, you need the index and middle finger or else you are useless.
Now, as English men fought with France (i think) and when prisoners were taken, their index and middle finger were cut off so they were useless if they ever get to escape from the enemy.
Showing these two fingers is like telling “ha-ha, you dont have these fingers so you are useless” or “dont mess with me or ill cut you these fingers and youl be useless”
But this is used only in england…
2
A few days ago
It has had different meanings throughout history. Nickolas is right too. In WW II, it was also a sign Allied troops used that represented victory. I saw it in an old 1943 recruiting poster and asked the same question.
0
A few days ago
If the fingers form a V then if the outer side of the fingers are shown it is an insult.
If the inside of the fingers are shown then it is a sign of victory(Winston Churchill)
0
A few days ago
When the French in days of old, captured English archers, they would cut off those two fingers so they couldn’t shoot anymore arrows. So as an act of defiance, the ones that escaped would give that gesture. You can guess what it means, same as our middle finger gesture.
3
A few days ago
Up yours!!!!!!! [ thats polite]
When English archers were captured by the French they chopped those fingers so they could not use a bow.
Those who could fire a bow gave the French a 2 finger salute
1
A few days ago
origin is V shape
means victory
0
A few days ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign
0
A few days ago
peace…thats a sign from all over the whole world
0
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