middle finger
Hand's central digit
The middle finger is the longest finger of the hand, between the index and ring fingers.
Extending it while keeping other fingers folded is a crude gesture of contempt or anger: He flipped me the middle finger in traffic.
To give someone the middle finger is to make this gesture, or figuratively, to show defiant disrespect: The whole album is a middle finger to the music industry.
Grossly offensive to decency
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- vulgarCrude or indecent
- rudeOffensively ill-mannered
- flip offObscene hand gesture
the bird · profane · crude · crass · disrespectful · derogatory · affront · slight
Defiance of established power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- contemptDisdainful disregard
challenge · opposition · audacity · boldness · disobedience · nonconformity · insubordination · refusal
Single numeric character
- phalanxMassed infantry formation
- knuckleFinger-to-hand joint
- boneHard skeletal tissue
- jointShared by multiple parties
nail · fingernail · cuticle · tendon · hand · palm · flexor · extensor
Grasping body part
- saluteGestural sign of honor
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- pointExact location or meaning
- fistTightly closed hand
thumbs up · peace sign · digit · pinky · extended · raised · flipping off · the bird
Not using speech
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- gesticulatingMaking expressive hand movements
conveying · silent · universal · unmistakable · emphatic · unambiguous · hostile · aggressive
obscene
Grossly offensive to decency
flip off · the bird · profane · crude · crass · disrespectful · derogatory · affront · slight · slur
rebellion
Defiance of established power
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
contempt · challenge · opposition · audacity · boldness · disobedience · nonconformity · insubordination · refusal · rejection
digit
Single numeric character
joint · nail · fingernail · cuticle · tendon · hand · palm · flexor · extensor
hand
Grasping body part
fist · thumbs up · peace sign · digit · pinky · extended · raised · flipping off · the bird · V-sign
nonverbal
Not using speech
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
gesticulating · conveying · silent · universal · unmistakable · emphatic · unambiguous · hostile · aggressive · dismissive
- hand featurespalm, fingers, knuckles, fingernails, thumb
- handspalm, fingers, thumb, knuckles, fingertips
- road ragetailgating, honking, cutting off, brake checking, horn honking
- digit anatomythumb, toe, phalanx, phalanges, phalange
- body partsarm, leg, hand, back, chest
- body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
middle fingerthumbs up
Gesture signaling approval
thumbs-up · peace sign · wave · handshake · applause
middle fingerpinky
Hand's smallest digit
little finger · pinky finger · thumb · ring finger · index finger
middle, finger, midway, midtown, midterm, middles, midlife, midfield, middlebrow