middle fingers

Offensive hand signal

Middle fingers is the plural of middle finger—the longest finger on each hand, located between the index and ring fingers.

Extending a middle finger toward someone, with other fingers folded down, is a vulgar gesture of contempt or defiance: He gave them the middle finger as he walked away.

The gesture is sometimes called flipping someone off or giving them the bird.

Related

extensor · metacarpal · defiance · knuckle · proximal · protest · silent protest · insult · distal · road rage · irreverence · manus · rebellion · nonverbal communication · taboo · typing · pointing · gripping

Opposites
gestural sentiment

middle fingersthumbs up

Gesture signaling approval

applause · standing ovation · high five · clapping · round of applause

relational intent

middle fingersopen arms

Welcoming body language

embrace · beckoning · thumbs up · blowing a kiss · hand on heart

social function

middle fingershandshake

Mutual palm-gripping gesture

embrace · open arms · bow · curtsy · hat tip

Family

middle, finger, middles, fingers, fingered, fingering, midst

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG-13