"the finger" in 1932 Hollywood epic (UNCLASSIFIED)

[David A. Daniel]

Wiki claims the finger goes back to ancient Rome where it was called
"digitus impudicus." Dunno. However, interesting to note its spread since
the 1980's or so. Used to be, here in Brazil, the finger was unknown. The
equivalent sign was what Americans might think of as a reverse OK sign. That
is, circle made with thumb and index finger, other three fingers straight
out, but with the back of the hand turned toward the target individual
(usually - it was also occasionally seen turned the other way too). The OK
sign in American movies and TV was occasion here for lots of giggles. Not so
anymore. Now, the "reverse OK" is virtually unknown among younger
generations, the American-style finger being the signal of choice. Likewise
in the UK. Used to be their hand-delivered insult was a backwards V sign,
made with the index and middle fingers. Now they seem to use the middle
finger pretty much exclusively too. I've also seen the finger on the
Continent in recent years, in places where the upward-folded-arm used to
hold sway. The first time (off the top of my head) that I remember seeing a
finger in a movie was in Easy Rider. From then on it became prevalent, and
my WAG is that it was movies that unified the world behind the finger.
DAD



Poster:       "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>
Subject:      Re: "the finger" in 1932 Hollywood epic (UNCLASSIFIED)
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> Poster:       paul johnson<paulzjoh at MTNHOME.COM>
> Subject:      Re: "the finger" in 1932 Hollywood epic (UNCLASSIFIED)
>
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>
> In the late 40s and early 50'sthe finger was given from closeted fist
> and as the finger popped open you could often here, "Like fishes perch,
> sit on this" My earliest assumption was someone was going to shove a
> finger up your (dare I say it) butthole.
--

Me, I've generally seen the gesture initiated from a closed fist (of
course in the usual case out the car window one may not be able to see
the initiation). I do not recall seeing it formed the other way from an
open hand in my life although this would seem a humorous or frivolous
variant and I might not remember it. For me at any rate, flexing all of
the other fingers rapidly and simultaneously while leaving the middle
finger extended is awkward and difficult (need practice, I guess).

"Give the finger" was usual ca. 1960 in my experience as I recall. I do
not recall hearing "give the bird" until ca. 1970.

There are/were (in my limited experience)  many many 'witty' remarks to
accompany the "finger" (or other comparable rude gesture), including
"You like fish? Then [you can] perch on this", "You like cigars? Here's
one for you" [brand sometimes named], etc., etc. Probably there's a big
list of these somewhere.

-- Doug Wilson

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org