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The history of the fak gesture. Explanation on the fingers

The raised middle finger is almost a universal obscene gesture - and by the way, it was known even to the ancient Greeks. Imagine the following picture. A well-known intellectual resorts to a gesture familiar to everyone, thus expressing dissatisfaction with the statements of an idle politician. He shows the middle finger and says: "This is a big demagogue!"

The raised middle finger is almost a universal obscene gesture - and by the way, it was known even to the ancient Greeks.

A broadcaster in the US has apologized after pop singer M.I.A. showed the middle finger during the broadcast of the finals of the American football championship. But what does this gesture mean? And why is it perceived as offensive?

Imagine the following picture. A well-known intellectual resorts to a gesture familiar to everyone, thus expressing dissatisfaction with the statements of an idle politician. He shows the middle finger and says: “This is a big demagogue!”

This story did not take place during a television talk show, and not in one of the salons in London or New York. It took place in Athens in the fourth century BC: thus, in the presentation of historians of a later era, the philosopher Diogenes, without embarrassment in expressions, described his attitude towards the orator Demosthenes.

It turns out that the middle finger, put forward with the rest of the fingers pressed to the palm, has been a symbol of insult and humiliation for more than two millennia.

phallic symbol

“This is one of the most ancient gestures known to us,” says anthropologist Desmond Morris.

“The middle finger symbolizes the penis, and the clenched fingers symbolize the seminal glands. This is a phallic symbol. It shows that you are showing a phallus, and such behavior has primitive roots, ”explains the expert.

During the Sunday broadcast of the Super Bowl - the most popular TV program on American television - British singer M.I.A. gave the middle finger as Madonna's performance began. In this regard, the American National Football League (NFL) and NBC television company apologized to viewers.

“An indecent gesture during a speech was completely unacceptable,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

The ancient Romans had a special name for this gesture: "digitus impudicus", that is, a shameless, obscene or insulting finger.

The hero of one of the epigrams of the poet Martial, who lived in the first century AD, boasts good health and shows three doctors an “indecent” middle finger.

The ancient Roman historian Tacitus wrote that the warriors of the Germanic tribes showed the middle finger to the advancing Roman soldiers.

But even centuries before, the Greeks used this gesture as a direct reference to the male genitalia.

The ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes wrote the comedy "Clouds" in 419 BC, in which one of the characters first gesticulates with his middle finger, and then with his genitals.

The origin of the gesture is perhaps even more ancient: according to Morris, scientists know the habits of South American squirrel monkeys, which gesticulate with excited genitals.

Overcoming cultural differences

According to the anthropologist, the obscene gesture was most likely brought to the United States by Italian emigrants. It was first attested in America in 1886, when a Boston Biniters baseball pitcher showed it off in a group photo with players from the rival New York Giants.

The French have their own “phallic salute,” Morris notes (the gesture is also common in Russia). It is called "bras d'honneur" (hand of honor), and is a hand bent at a right angle, on which the second hand is placed near the elbow.

At the same time, a similar British gesture is a “victory” sign turned inside out (when the index and middle fingers, but the hand is turned with the palm side facing you).

Historians continue to debate the origin of this gesture, but the most common legend is that it was first used during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Allegedly on the battlefield, the British began defiantly waving their middle fingers in front of the noses of the French soldiers, who threatened to cut off the thumb and forefinger of the captured archers so that they could not shoot.

However, the offensive meaning of the middle finger has long transcended cultural, linguistic or national boundaries. Now it can be seen at protests, football matches and rock concerts around the world.

Last December, Liverpool striker Suarez was caught by photographers while giving the middle finger to Fulham fans after losing 1-0 away. The English Football Federation reprimanded him for inappropriate behavior and suspended him for one game.

In 2004, a Canadian MP from Calgary was accused of making a rude gesture to a colleague from another party who prevented him from speaking in the House of Commons.

“I, let's say, expressed my displeasure with his actions,” Deepak Obrai later explained his behavior to local journalists.

What's frank about it?

Two years later, pop singer Britney Spears gave the finger to a group of photographers who allegedly harassed her. However, some fans decided that the gesture was meant for them, and the star had to apologize.

Although the middle finger historically symbolized the phallus, it has lost its original meaning and is no longer perceived as something obscene, according to Ira Robbins, a law professor at the University of Washington who has studied the role of gesture in the history of criminal jurisprudence.

“This is not a manifestation of lustful interest,” the expert assures. – This gesture is rooted in everyday life – both in our country and in others. It means a lot of other things - protest, anger, excitement. It is no longer just a phallus.”

Robbins doesn't even share the point of view of the Associated Press journalist, who called the gesture "outspoken." “What is frank about him? the expert asks. - Dancing can be frank. But a finger? I just don't understand it."

Latin name Blood supply Venous outflow Innervation Catalogs

Middle finger- the third, middle of five, finger on the human hand.

The middle finger is the longest on the hand. The tip of the middle finger is the extreme point of the outstretched hand, so the middle finger is taken into account when determining some units of measurement related to anatomy (span, elbow, etc.)

In many cultures, showing the middle finger is a special obscene gesture, see middle finger (gesture).

When playing the piano, it is indicated by the number 3, on string instruments - by the number 2.

In Spanish, the middle finger is literally called "finger of the heart." In Hebrew, the name of the middle finger is the same as the name of the measure of length "cubit".

In some cultures, the middle finger indicates restriction. It is believed that the finger limits the skills that the other 4 fingers give.

Where did it come from showing the middle finger and sending everyone nah.

The middle finger, or fak (from the English fuck) is an indecent gesture, consisting in the fact that the middle finger rises up or forward, and the remaining four fingers are pressed against the palm. The middle finger, at the same time, acts as a phallic symbol. Sometimes the thumb is not pressed to the palm, but set aside, but the essence of the gesture does not change from this.
The gesture serves as a pure insult or a rude request to leave alone, “get rid of” (in particular, the middle finger is put to the camera lens, demanding to stop shooting). In English-speaking countries, the verbal equivalent of this gesture is the swear word fuck you!

Mentions of an obscene gesture with a finger are already in antiquity, in Aristophanes in the comedy "Clouds" and among the Romans (Latin digitus impudicus). The French chronicler Jean Froissart writes that the British gave the French the middle finger during the Hundred Years' War. In 1976, US Vice President Nelson Rockefeller gave the middle finger to the whistling crowd.
The middle finger among football fans is known as the Effenberg gesture: German footballer Stefan Effenberg showed the middle finger to the fans in response to insults and whistles at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, after which he was expelled from the national team and played only two friendlies in it four years later . It is curious that in the homeland of a football player, in Germany, such a gesture (German: Stinkefinger) can officially be fined by law.

This gesture has a number of equivalents. For example, in Iran, an analogue of this gesture is a gesture with a clenched fist and a protruding thumb. It is still used in Italy in the sense of good or bad.
The gesture also has an analogue in Sri Lanka, which is performed by squeezing the palm turned up into a fist and sticking out the index finger up.
It is curious that in Great Britain and Ireland, the analogue is a modified gesture "victory", in which the index and middle fingers raised up form the letter V, the thumb, ring and little fingers are pressed against the palm, and the hand is turned back to the person to whom the gesture is addressed.
An existing urban legend claims that during the Hundred Years' War, the French cut off the middle and index fingers of captured English and Welsh archers. Thus, they could not use the bow to shoot at the French. After the battle of Agincourt, the victorious British showed the French their middle and index fingers, demonstrating that they were in place. According to another version of this legend, before this battle, the French threatened to defeat the British, and they especially boasted of the crossbowmen as their main striking force (the crossbow trigger is pressed with the middle finger). After the French lost a battle, the British mockingly reminded them of their boast by showing them middle fingers. This legend also speaks of the appearance of the sign "Victory" ("Victory")

What does the index and middle fingers raised up mean?

Responsible

The first answer was good and correct, but it’s a pity that it’s not of high quality (there are no 200 characters), so no one is charged for the question.

I will try to correct this situation.

We most often see this gesture on our TV screens - it is shown by athletes or other participants in the competition (KVN, Voice, etc.) who have won the competition.

This is an international sign, understandable to all nations - V - Victoria or Victory.

By the way, for complete accuracy, I want to note that the second version of the previously given answer cannot be considered accurate, since the fingers to the throat (forks) cannot be considered fingers raised up (they are in a horizontal position).

Vladimir09854

The index and middle fingers, raised up, form, as it were, the Roman numeral five "V" or the letter of the English alphabet "V".

The letter V - means Victory, which in English means victory.

Surely you have seen when athletes win some competitions, they make such a gesture for spectators or television cameras.

On May 9, often, when a military parade is shown, joyful citizens wave their hands, making such gestures of victory.

And still I want to note one nuance. Some people, when they show such a gesture, mean the world. These are pacifists.

And I also want to draw attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is depicted with a similar gesture on many icons. I think that the pacifists learned this gesture from the icons with Jesus Christ. See for yourself.

Is it a similar gesture?

And now a picture for comparison.

And now a picture for a smile :)

What does the gesture of 2 fingers mean: index and middle?

What does such a gesture mean? Where did you go?

This gesture is truly international. Even people who do not speak English know this fun and perky word - victory!

I don't know when this gesture was first shown. But it is so successful and appropriate in a situation where a person is overwhelmed with delight and jubilation - Victory! I do not think that something more significant will be offered in the near future.

Marina Kurdyukova

IN various countries gestures can mean different things. This gesture means victory in most countries, but I don’t remember in which country it means, I want two girls of easy virtue. There was such an embarrassment with some American civil servant. He rode in a car and greeted the people in a foreign country, and the next morning the newspapers were full of headlines about the indecent behavior of the American ambassador.

Mirra mi

Those who watched the qualifying round of the TV project "Voice 4" this gesture - 2 fingers for index and middle, facing the palm outward - was used by Grigory Leps when he turned to the contestant. This gesture means victory, showing the letter V from the word victory.

This gesture denotes the letter V of the Latin alphabet, which begins the word "victory" in English language(Victory). Used in appropriate cases when a person wants to show that he has won. Shown palm forward. The same figure, but with the palm facing back, is used in our country to show the number "two". But in England, this gesture will be offended, as it is considered very indecent.

fox nasa

This gesture is used to denote Victory, which in Latin spelling begins with the letter "V" from the word Victory - victory. It is also customary for monarchs to greet their subjects, their people with this gesture, which is also a kind of victory. And recently also the gesture of the singing competition "Voice" in the English version of Voice. And another option is less popular designation of the Arabic numeral 11 or the Roman numeral II, i.e. 2.

Pro100th

If you dig around on the Internet, you can find the definition of this figure of two fingers, and basically it will mean victory.

But today's youth more often began to use it as a greeting and farewell, just like that, in photographs or when they can’t say, it’s not worth shouting, they show these two fingers with forked ones.

The gesture is called "Victoria" (victory hand) and means victory. The gesture is shown with two fingers (index and middle), the remaining fingers are bent, the hand is usually raised up.

A gesture common throughout the world. There is a version that it originates from the time of the Hundred Years War (XIV-XV centuries).

dolphinica

The gesture is very famous. signifies victory. Two fingers apart are very reminiscent of the letter V, which is Victoria. that is, victory. But many are interested in the gesture when the two fingers of the index and middle fingers are together, and not open.

I would just like to know about two fingers folded together, and not opened apart.

Asyushka

I heard that this is Victoria - victory. But I know not only about the victory, but also about the World (hippies seem to greet each other with this gesture and say goodbye).

In any case, a good gesture that does not carry any negativity.

In some countries, the gesture may not be decent, but I don’t know what I don’t know.

Stalonevich

Many people use this gesture in a completely different way, with a completely different meaning that this gesture was endowed with earlier. In fact, a gesture with two fingers would mean "Victoria", that is, it means "victory" in a different way.

Almost everyone is familiar with the gesture of the extended middle finger, but few people know its true meaning. In this article we will talk about the history of this indecent gesture, its real meaning and its analogues among different peoples.

Gesture "Middle finger". Image source: getdrawings.com

The gesture "showing the middle finger" is expressed in the fact that a person raises the middle finger, and clenches the remaining fingers into a fist. In some cases, the thumb sticks out to the side, but the meaning of demonstrating such a gesture remains unchanged.

In the modern sense, this gesture is offensive or expresses a strong indication that the person showing it should be left alone, not molested.

History of the gesture

Renowned anthropologist Desmond Morris says that showing the middle finger is one of the oldest human gestures known to scientists, the history of which begins with the primitive system. Four fingers pressed to the palm symbolize the male seminal glands, and the middle finger acts as a phallic symbol.

Image source: www.brainjet.com

The ancient Greeks used the “middle finger” gesture as a direct designation of the male genital organs, and if someone pointed at someone with the middle finger, then this was considered a strong insult.
In one of the works of the Greek writer Aristophanes "Clouds", written back in 419 BC. there is mention of how a peasant shows Socrates the middle finger, and then the genitals in response to his question.

But, probably, this gesture appeared behind and began to be used by people long before that and came from animals, since among the habits of males of one of the species of monkeys living in South Africa there is a demonstrative demonstration of the genitals after establishing dominance over other individuals.

IN Ancient Rome this gesture was called "digitus impudicus" - an indecent, insulting or shameless finger.

Sculpture depicting the middle finger in front of the Italian Stock Exchange in Milan. Image Source: www.edreams.com

About the middle finger, a statement by Diogenes has come down to our time, in which he said that most people are one finger away from insanity: in the event that a person stretches out the middle finger, he will be considered insane, and if he stretches out the index finger , then they won't.

At the same time, in addition to an insulting gesture, the demonstration of the middle finger was used as a way to protect against damage and the evil eye.

Analogues of the "middle finger" gesture among different peoples

Many peoples have equivalents of this gesture, which have a similar meaning.

For example, in Iran, a clenched fist with the thumb pointing up is used as an offensive gesture.

The thumb pointing up is considered offensive in Iran. Photo source: www.stratoscale.com

In Sri Lanka, the gesture is similar to its Western "brother", only the index finger is extended, not the middle finger.

Middle finger equivalent in Sri Lanka image source: wikimedia.org

Also, an analogue of the "phallic gesture" is the arm bent at the elbow, with the imposition of the second hand on the bend of the elbow. The French call it "hand of honor", in Poland it is "Kozakevich's gesture", in Colombia "walk", in Italy "Umbrella", the Croats call "Bosnian coat of arms". This gesture is well known and widespread in Russia.

In 1980, at the Olympics, the Polish jumper V. Kozakevich, after his victorious jump, showed an insulting gesture to the audience, who constantly booed him. Because of this jumper, they wanted to deprive the medal, however, the Polish delegation somehow still managed to convince the committee that this gesture was made by Kozakiewicz involuntarily due to muscle spasm. Image source: rarehistoricalphotos.com

Another equivalent of the "middle finger" is known in Russia under the names "shish", "muzzle", "fig", "fig"(when the palm is clenched into a fist, and the tip of the thumb protrudes between the middle and index fingers). Among the Arab peoples, kukish means the strongest sexual humiliation and insult. Among the inhabitants of the East - the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, as well as the "middle finger" in Western and European countries, symbolizes the phallus and has a very nasty and vulgar meaning.

Gesture "fig" / "fig" / "shish". Image source: www.avanqard.net

The British also have their own similar insulting gesture, which looks like the "Viktory" gesture, only reversed. There is an interesting legend about its origin....

An analogue of the "middle finger" in England. Image source: www.bybecky.co.uk

According to one of the legends, during the Hundred Years War, French soldiers cut off the index and middle fingers of the captured English arrows so that they could no longer use them. But in 1415, after the victory of the British at the Battle of Agincourt, the English soldiers showed the defeated French their middle and index fingers, demonstrating that nothing had happened to them and that they were whole. The same legend explains the origin of the gesture and the sign V ("Victory" - "victory").
According to another version, before the same battle, the French were confident in their victory, while they were very proud and boasted of their crossbowmen. It should be noted that the shot and descent of the crossbow string was made with the middle finger. Having defeated the French army, the British, mocking the French, waved their outstretched middle finger at the defeated, recalling their premature boasting.

In our time, the "middle finger" gesture has long gone beyond the linguistic and cultural framework and has partially lost its humiliating and offensive meaning. Now, quite often, in any corner of the planet, it can be seen during public events such as sports matches, concerts of popular performers, etc.

Pay attention to the interlocutor during the conversation. How often does he gesticulate, thus accompanying his speech? How emotional is he? What actions do the fingers slip?

Many people resort to using their hands during a conversation to give their speech a more vivid emotional coloring. Sometimes, with the help of finger gestures, you can understand what mood a person is in or what he really wants to convey to the interlocutor.

Raised palm

In most countries, a raised palm indicates a stop signal. This use of it is used in the course of a conversation to stop the interlocutor.

The second designation is "greeting" or "farewell", when the palm is raised up for a short time. But among the peoples of Greece, this is an insulting gesture, after which conflict will immediately follow.

Connecting the fingertips of both hands

When the interlocutor puts his fingertips together, you can immediately understand that he is full of calmness and confidence in himself and his knowledge. Such people are stingy with emotions and are very balanced.

The gesture also marks the moment of reflection and decision. In this interpretation, it was used several hundred years ago at judicial meetings.

Crossed index and middle fingers

In many Western countries for good luck. In Russia, this gesture corresponds to two designations: for good luck and as a cancellation of one's words. When a person makes any promise that he is not going to keep or his speech is unreliable, then he keeps his fingers crossed behind his back in order to "relieve himself of all responsibility" for what he said.

But in the Vatican, showing this gesture to the interlocutor, a person insults him, because in this country such a plexus of fingers means female genital organs.

Inviting gesture with index finger

On the territory of Russia, as well as in many European and Western countries, someone is called by a stretched forward and curving index finger, but it is considered a "slang" symbol and is not used in cultural communication. In Asian countries, this gesture is prohibited. In the Philippines, dogs are called in this way, so its use in relation to a person is humiliating and insulting.

kukish

Such a sign in different countries interpreted in its own way. So, among the inhabitants of Russia, this is an expression of refusal, and in a rude form. And for the Brazilians - on the contrary, a symbol of goodwill, who wish good health and good luck. Therefore, in this country it is used quite often.

Middle finger

This gesture in most civilized countries is obscene, offensive. It symbolizes the male genital organs, and in this designation the middle finger was used back in the days of the ancient Romans.

Fist

When all the fingers on one or both hands are pressed to the palm, that is, they are clenched in, it indicates the hostile mood of the person.

The emergence of finger gestures

The use of fingers during colloquial speech or separately from it began to exist many centuries ago, even at the time of the formation of civilization. Especially often gestures were involved in religions.

Among Christians, finger movements, folding them into various plexuses were used during the reading of prayers, worship.

In Muslims, each phalanx of the fingers, as well as the palm, is endowed with a letter of the alphabet.

In France, when various secret societies were organized, members of these societies communicated using finger and hand gestures. Moreover, the gestures were known only to them and were secret.

In Chinese medicine, with the help of fingers, the whole body was treated by pressing on special points. Therefore, in Asian countries, hands are also a symbol of health, and gesticulation with their help of offensive signs is prohibited.

Over time, the use of fingers as a way of communication took root in public life and began to be supplemented with new symbols, changing its meaning. Now most people use this method of communication, sometimes unconsciously, expressing their emotional outburst.

For people with handicapped it is the only way to interact with the outside world. Therefore, finger gestures cannot be ignored in communication.

It turns out that the middle finger, put forward with the rest of the fingers pressed to the palm, has been a symbol of insult and humiliation for more than two millennia.

"It's one of the oldest gestures we know of," says anthropologist Desmond Morris.

"An indecent gesture during a performance was completely unacceptable," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

The ancient Romans had a special name for this gesture: "digitus impudicus", that is, a shameless, obscene or insulting finger.

The hero of one of the epigrams of the poet Martial, who lived in the first century AD, boasts of good health and shows the “indecent” middle finger to three doctors.

The ancient Roman historian Tacitus wrote that the warriors of the Germanic tribes showed the middle finger to the advancing Roman soldiers.

But even centuries before, the Greeks used this gesture as a direct reference to the male genitalia.

The ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes in 419 BC wrote the comedy "Clouds", in which one of the characters first gesticulates with his middle finger, and then with his genitals.

The origin of the gesture is perhaps even more ancient: according to Morris, scientists know the habits of South American squirrel monkeys, which gesticulate with excited genitals.
Overcoming cultural differences

The French have their own "phallic salute," Morris notes (the gesture is also common in Russia). It is called "bras d" honneur "(hand of honor), and is a hand bent at a right angle, on which the second hand is placed near the elbow.

At the same time, a similar British gesture is the “victory” sign turned inside out (when the index and middle fingers are shown, but the hand is turned with the palm side facing you).

Historians continue to debate the origin of this gesture, but the most common legend is that it was first used during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In 2004, a Canadian MP from Calgary was accused of making a rude gesture to a colleague from another party who prevented him from speaking in the House of Commons.

“I, shall we say, expressed my displeasure with his actions,” Deepak Obrai later explained his behavior to local journalists.
What's frank about it?

“This is not a manifestation of lustful interest,” the expert assures. – This gesture is rooted in everyday life – both in our country and in others. It means a lot of other things - protest, anger, excitement. It is no longer just a phallus."

Robbins doesn't even share the point of view of the Associated Press journalist, who called the gesture "outspoken." “What is frank about it? the expert asks. - Dancing can be frank. But a finger? I just don't understand it."